#AngelaVsAudrey: Brown Burke supporters call Crawford, Pryce 'sell out'

Syranno Baines, Gleaner Writer

Damion Crawford and Raymond Pryce, both supporters of the People's National Party (PNP's) Audrey Smith Facey in the St Andrew South West selection contest, arrived in the constituency this morning to slurs of "sell out" and "traitor" by backers of contender, Angela Brown Burke.

But they appeared unfazed.

Crawford, the former of Parliament for East Rural St Andrew was appointed by Simpson Miller to her executive in the previous administration while Pryce, a former St Elizabeth North East MP, has long been one of her allies.

But both politicians are not in Brown Burke's camp with Simpson Miller.

IN PHOTO: Angela Brown Burke is all smiles as Portia Simpson Miller places her ballot in the box

"Mrs Simpson Miller gave me an opportunity in politics but at the end of the day, an independent man stands with an independent mind," Crawford said.

"Audrey represents what the PNP stands for. When Portia is in parliament she says I am from Woodhall. We want someone to say I am from (St Andrew) South West and so that children can look up to them and say 'I can become that same person'," Crawford said.

Smith Facey, the Payne Land division councillor is from St Andrew South West, while Brown Burke hails from St Ann.

In the meantime, Crawford has dismissed claims that there is a rift within the PNP and has labelled the polls as mere competition.

"It's early times and we're just trying to get out our voters. Whenever there's a competition there's going to be difference in views. At the end of the day, we're one PNP," Crawford told The Gleaner.