Westmoreland councillor Lawton McKenzie back with PNP
Published:Friday | September 15, 2023 | 1:19 PM
Councillor for the Grange Hill Division in Westmoreland Lawton McKenzie, who recently resigned from the People's National Party (PNP), has returned to the party.
McKenzie made the announcement at a press conference today.
“I have come back home to the party that I have served for my entire adult life,” McKenzie said.
He was joined at the event by Mayor of Savanna-La-Mar Bertel Moore and other PNP councillors.
In July, McKenzie, Ian Myles of the Little London Division, and Garfield James of the Sheffield Division walked away from the PNP over the selection of Ian Hayles as the party's candidate for Member of Parliament in the next general election.
The men indicated that would serve as independent councillors.
At yesterday's monthly meeting of the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation, Myles and James announced that they have now joined the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).
McKenzie had expressed allegiance to Moore.
The move by Myles and James had increased the JLP's pool to six to the PNP's five.
However, with McKenzie back with the PNP, both parties have six seats.
McKenzie's decision to return to the PNP has also increased the ongoing political fight for control of the municipal corporation following an internal disagreement in the PNP's Westmoreland Western constituency.
Moore, who escaped being booted from the top job as mayor yesterday, welcomed McKenzie's return, which helped secure his place, at least until the next local government elections.
“As a comrade, I am very proud to see that my comrade brother has decided to return to the People's National Party,” Moore said.
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