Duane Smith gets his shot at representing St Andrew North Western
Published:Thursday | October 17, 2024 | 12:13 AMKimone Francis/Senior Staff Reporter
Former Cabinet Minister and Member of Parliament (MP) for St Andrew North Western Derrick Smith says his son, Duane, who, yesterday, announced his prospective candidacy for the seat, has been “well trained” and is ready to occupy the office of MP.
The younger Smith announced via social media that he is to represent the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) in the next parliamentary election constitutionally due 11 months from now.
“Having served the past 12 years as councillor for the Chancery Hall division, I learnt a lot from both Dr Nigel Clarke and much more from watching and being mentored by my dad, Derrick,” Smith wrote on X.
He continued: “I’m humble to be the Jamaica Labour Party candidate for St Andrew North West. The work never stopped!”
His announcement comes ahead of Clarke’s departure for the International Monetary Fund, where he will take up a senior position as deputy managing director.
Clarke became member of parliament for St Andrew North Western in 2018, dispatching the opposition People’s National Party’s (PNP) Keshia Hayle in a by-election.
His entrance into the constituency then cut short Smith’s expectation to succeed his father in the constituency.
Learned grass-roots politics
Yesterday, the elder Smith said Duane, the third of his three sons, was the only one who, from the age of five, showed any interest in his profession.
Smith said that after his son completed his studies both locally and overseas, attaining a master’s degree, he “positioned” him in the constituency at the council level to learn grass-roots politics and to interact, relate to people, and to offer service.
“He missed the opportunity to succeed me when I retired in 2018, but as the saying goes, what is fi you can’t be unfi you,” said Smith, who served as the parliamentary representative for St Andrew North Western for 29 unbroken years from 1989 to 2018.
“He’s now getting his shot to represent the entire constituency of St Andrew North Western. Having been trained by me, having served three terms as a councillor, I’m expecting Duane to be an excellent representative of North West St Andrew,” he said.
The JLP has not lost St Andrew North Western since 1976 when the PNP’s Kenneth McNeill defeated Karl Samuda by 1,879 votes. McNeill secured 6,611 votes to Samuda’s 4,732.
Samuda turned the tide four years later in 1980, defeating the PNP’s Carlyle Dunkley by 5,646 votes, polling 10,592 to his 4,946.
Smith said his son’s prospect is “outstanding” but cautioned against any comparisons between them.
“He’s a completely different person in terms of style and personality. He’s his own man with his own style, but he has been well trained and I think fit for the job,” he said.