Independents flood St Catherine North Eastern
Published:Friday | February 9, 2024 | 9:46 AMRasbert Turner/Gleaner Writer
Nine of 10 candidates will be standard-bearers for their respective parties in the February 26 Local Government Elections for three seats in St Catherine North Eastern after one nomination was yesterday rendered null and void.
Speaking with The Gleaner, Michael Terrelonge, the returning officer for St Catherine North Eastern, said that the nomination that could not go through was for a prospective independent candidate for the Guys Hill division.
“I was called last night by Omar Harrison to become an independent candidate for the Guys Hill division. He came that morning, and after he was processed, it was revealed that he was not on the voters’ list, therefore he could not become a candidate,” Terrelonge said.
The returning officer noted that it was very crucial for prospective candidates to know that they have to be on the voters’ list in the division, or at least the parish, to become an elected representative of the people.
The day’s exercise went on with an active slate of independent candidates, particularly in the Guys Hill division, where three such prospective candidates, to include Harrison, put forward their intentions.
Terrelonge said Nomination Day went on without incidents.
Among the independent candidates for Guys Hill was Leroy Dunn, former councillor, and Althea Cameron-Mason.
“I was elected on the last JLP (Jamaica Labour Party) ballot in the Guys Hill division and am pleased that the people called for my participation, and I hope that it will reflect in the February 26, 2024, polls,” Dunn said.
Meanwhile, Cameron-Mason said it was the need for active representation that led to her decision to apply.
LEADING CHANGE
“I have realised the need for better roadwork programmes, markets, and overall development of Guys Hill, so I want to be a part of the change,” Cameron-Mason said.
Kenneth Harper, of the Glengoffe Pentecostal Church, who is nominated on an independent ticket for Mount Industry, is demanding changes.
“We need road, water, employment of the youth, and general upliftment of the division, which remains stagnant, so that is why I am here to make a change,” Harper said.
In the meantime, Kerensia Morrison, member of parliament for St Catherine North Eastern, said she was confident of her councillor candidates in the division.
“I am almost emotional to see the level of support being shown from all the divisions within the constituency, which makes me supremely confident of those we select to be our standard-bearer,” Morrison said.
Joshua Johnson was selected to represent Guys Hill, while former Councillor Winston Chambers is seeking victory on a People’s National Party (PNP) ticket.
In Mount Industry, Correl Davis, formerly of the PNP, will be on a JLP ticket, hoping to unseat the PNP’s Rogae Kirlew.
In Troja, former JLP councillor William Cytall is now on a PNP ticket and is being challenged by the JLP’s Robert Grandison.
According to Police Inspector Constantine Bennett, the police were able to mitigate any potential issues on the day through its deployment of law-enforcement personnel.