PNP the party of Russell’s dreams

Kenneth Russell’s skills, education, and experience as a former United Nations consultant have taken him to several countries of the world with education systems and outcomes similar to Jamaica. It is for these reasons that the local man has offered his 16-year experience - garnered at the local and international level - to the People’s National Party (PNP) and the constituency of St Ann South East.

Russell is a political newcomer but is not oblivious to the issues that have rocked the constituency for several years and almost led to a political loss in 2020. It was retained by 31 votes.

He will replace Lisa Hanna, who is a four-term member of parliament, first winning the seat in 2007. She was again successful in 2011, 2016, and 2020 when she held on by a hair’s breadth. She has announced her departure from the constituency. Prior to her, it was Aloun Assamba in 2002, and she served for one term. Before her, it was the late Seymour Mullings, who served between 1989 and 2002 and 1969 and 1983 when the PNP did not contest the 1983 snap elections.

Every PNP MP from this constituency has held a Cabinet post.

Russell, who told The Gleaner last evening that his work as an educator has taken him to Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, said there was no negotiation between his and the team of former cricketer Wavel Hinds, both of whom would have faced a runoff for the right to represent the party.

The right thing to do

Hinds, in bowing out of the runoff, said it was the right thing to do as the interest of the PNP and the constituents was greater than any one person. He wished Russell well and has offered to work with him to restore greater political stability in the constituency, which has been badly damaged by internal political strife, disagreements, undermining, and outward displays of disaffection among residents, councillors and the MP, Hanna.

“I resigned my job with the United Nations a few weeks ago. I previously worked with UNICEF as an education manager in various countries for about 16 years in total. I worked in Jamaica on and off for about six years and about 10 years internationally,” Russell told The Gleaner.

“I have worked in Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and I was based most recently in New York. My NY post allowed me to cover multiple countries. It was a global role around the world,” he disclosed.

“There are a lot of similarities between those countries and Jamaica, especially with learning outcomes – children go to school but they not learning – and the quality of teachers. My focus in the last few years has been on foundational learning, which is a major challenge with the pandemic and the learning loss.”

Zimbabwe, he said, struggles with teacher-quality issues while Bangladesh has more pronounced gender issues.

“As a UN staff, a lot of my work was trying to influence policymakers and help systems get better. I always wanted to get into politics, and instead of trying to influence them I said, ‘Why don’t I be a part of those who can influence legislative and policy decisions for better?’,” he explained.

“I always knew that I wanted to represent the PNP. I am from the constituency and one of the most PNP parts of the constituency. But the PNP, for me, it’s about its principles; the fact that it is a progressive movement and focuses on uplifting and supporting issues of social justice which are so central to the party,” he said.

He grew up, he said, always PNP, but the principles made it more appealing than any other party and is the avenue through which he wants to do his work.

Russell taught in Jamaica for three years and worked with the National Centre for Youth Development for another two years, focusing on youth policy. He also worked with youth and community-based organisations. His UN career with UNICEF began in Jamaica, and he was part of the team supporting child care and development legislation and the Child Development Agency.

“What I bring to the constituency is beyond some of the well-known problems. We have had challenges with relationships in the constituency. I think my experience working with the UN and the diplomatic side of that will be helpful in addressing those challenges,” he said. He has promised to restore the good PNP vibes that existed formerly.

Hanna fell out of favour with Lydia Richards, the councillor for the Bensonton division, who challenged her for the right to represent the seat. The once former geographic political bastion, in both parliamentary and municipal elections, subsequently lost one of its four divisions to the Jamaica Labour Party. It is unclear if the councillors and their soured relationships with Hanna are any less bitter.

The seen and unseen hand of Denzil ‘Wizzy’ McDonald is critical to the success of any candidate in the constituency. It can also become a political machete to the MP.

Russell said he comes with peace.

“Political relationships must unify. I think my calm disposition and experience in diplomacy will help to lower the temperature and get people to focus on the big picture,” he said.

Issues of infrastructure, such as roads and water, are foremost for him, and he has “an unwavering focus on those because they open up so many possibilities”.

Issues around climate change and a strong focus on accountability and transparency are agenda issues for the man who would likely be a minister in a PNP administration.

erica.virtue@gleanerjm.com