‘The man for the job’

Warren Newby emerged victorious yesterday in an internal poll to select the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) standard-bearer for Clarendon North Western in the upcoming general election.

The former JLP senator won most of the votes from delegates in all four divisions, polling 389 to the 166 received by his main contender, Corey Dunkley.

Dr Clovis Nelson, an educator who also participated in the internal poll, received eight votes.

The 47-year-old, who will replace outgoing Member of Parliament (MP) Phillip Henriques, told The Gleaner that he was humbled by his decisive victory, which he said is the culmination of hard work and loyalty.

“I am a Labour Party man. It matters not which position they put me in. I serve and I work as hard as I can,” he said.

Newby has a long history with the governing political party, having served as campaign manager for three JLP parliamentarians – Michael Stern, Gregory Mair, and Zavia Mayne. He was also a senator and junior minister in the Bruce Golding administration.

Newby is optimistic that his win yesterday will propel him to Gordon House once again.

“We are going to use this momentum as we organise the seat for the general election,” he said.

But first, Newby said, he will be fostering reconciliation among his contenders to ensure unity.

“I am very proud of them, how they have conducted their campaign. It really lays the foundation for us to heal very quickly,” he said.

As soon as the official results are announced, a committee chaired by former MP for Clarendon North Western Cliff Stone will be established to facilitate the restoration, he stated.

For Newby’s supporters, his victory is a vindication after years of being out of the party’s top machinery.

“It has vindicated the long hours of work for years that he has done for the Labour Party, and we look forward to a successful run,” Horace Charoo, executive member of the Clarendon Area Council, said.

Charlayne Thompson from the Frankfield division was relieved at his win.

“Warren is the man for the job, and right about now what we are going to do as his executive is to put back everybody together so we can have one main focus and win for the Jamaica Labour Party,” she said.

“We need a man like Newby, and we get him, and we going work with him,” another supporter chimed in.

Pointing to poor roads, water-supply problems, lack of infrastructure, and employment opportunities for young people as issues impacting the constituency, Thompson is confident in Newby’s ability to address those concerns.

“Going forward, we have a strong MP that young people can look up to,” she said.

THE RIGHT CHOICE

Meanwhile, Councillor for the Frankfield division Clive Mundle is convinced that delegates made the right choice.

“In my heart, I don’t have anything against anyone because all of us are Labourites, but from day one, I am saying if we want to win back North West Clarendon, we can’t fool ourselves. We have to pick the best person that we think is gonna win a Richard Azan. Warren Newby is the best person at this time,” he said.

Dr Horace Chang, JLP’s general secretary, said the party’s secretariat intends to respect the outcome of the polls and will make a recommendation accordingly to the Central Executive.

He noted that all party workers in the constituency had the opportunity to participate in yesterday’s voting, which was the culmination of a series of internal consultations.

The Clarendon North Western seat has grown increasingly competitive in recent election cycles. While historically a JLP stronghold, the party’s grip has loosened since 2002 when Carl Stone lost to the People’s National Party’s (PNP) Richard Azan.

The JLP reclaimed the seat in 2007, but Azan won it back in 2011 and 2016 in tightly contested races. The JLP took hold again in 2020.

Azan is back as the PNP’s representative.

sashana.small@gleanerjm.com