Uphel Purcell's PNP membership terminated

The People's National Party (PNP) has terminated Uphel Purcell's membership in the party following his nomination on Thursday to run as an independent candidate in the February 26 Local Government Elections.

Pucell, who won the York Town Division on a PNP ticket in the 2016 election, was replaced following a leaked video of him in a compromising position.

The PNP says his decision to run in the division against its candidate, Anthony Davis, contravenes its rules.

It said his membership was being "terminated with immediate effect".

In a letter to Purcell on Thursday, PNP general secretary, Dr Dayton Campbell, said "for the time you spent as councillor representing the People's National Party, we thank you for your service."

However, he said the party would ensure that on election day, "a bona fide member of the PNP" represents the York Town Division.

Following his nomination on Thursday, Purcell had quipped, “I will always be PNP!”

“I am running as an independent but still a strong supporter of the People's National Party. I am a PNP and will continue being a PNP. That is the reason I have not gone to the other party, but what happened to me was not fair, [or] honest, and the member of parliament, Mr Lothan Cousins, and others who stood up against me, should not have done that because I have done nothing wrong,” said Purcell.

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