Dalrymple-Philibert to be challenged by former Labourite
Published:Thursday | November 7, 2024 | 6:38 PM
Western Bureau:
Former member of parliament (MP) Marissa Dalrymple-Philibert was one of two candidates who were nominated in Albert Town, Trelawny, to contest the November 22 by-election for the Trelawny South constituency, which has been vacant for over a year.
Dalrymple-Philibert, who will be representing the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), will be challenged by former JLP councillor Lloyd ‘Muzzy’ Gillings, who represented the Albert Town division in the Trelawny Municipal Corporation.
Gillings, who broke ranks with the JLP and crossed the floor to the People’s National Party (PNP), subsequently contested Trelawny South against Dalrymple-Philibert twice and lost. This time, he is contesting the seat as an independent candidate.
The vacancy in Trelawny South was created when Dalrymple-Philibert, who had won the seat four consecutive terms between 2005 and 2020, resigned as MP in September 2023, the same time she quit as Speaker of the House of Representatives following a damning report from the Integrity Commission in which it was recommended that she be criminally charged.
When she arrived for her nomination, clad in an unbranded green blouse, Dalrymple-Philibert had solid support from the JLP’s hierarchy in the form of party stalwarts Audley Shaw, Everald Warmington, and Deputy Prime Minister Dr Horace Chang.
“I resigned because my conscience guided me so to do ... . I was not forced to do so,” Dalrymple- Philibert told the large gathering of JLP supporters after handing in her nomination papers. “I followed my conscience when I resigned, and after hearing the cries of the people, I followed my conscience and came back to represent them.
“The support I got today is an indication that I made the right decision. I have won four consecutive elections in this constituency, and on each occasion, I increased my margin of victory,” added Dalrymple-Philibert.
Gillings, whose arrival was marked by limited fanfare, stepped into the nomination centre about 11:00 a.m. clad in full white, similar to the handful of supporters who accompanied him.
“The constituency needs proper representation. I am here to give them better roads and water and to help the farmers and not neglect them,” said Gillings, who lost by 4,600 votes the last time he challenged Dalrymple-Philibert while running on a PNP ticket.
“We want a MP who respect the people and is prepared to represent them well.”
With a general election constitutionally due within a year, the PNP, which is expected to be represented by funeral director Paul Patmore at that time, is sitting out the by-election set for November 22.
Like the JLP supporters, Warmington was upbeat in commenting on Dalrymple-Philibert’s candidacy and expressed confidence that she would become a five-time MP for Trelawny South.
“I never back a loser. I have travelled from St Catherine to support my friend. The party is in good standing with her representing the people here,” said Warmington.