Dethroning a giant

THE PEOPLE'S National Party (PNP) standard-bearer for North Central St Andrew has likened herself to the biblical child hero, David.

Leanne Philips, who was last week selected to run against Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Campaign Director Karl Samuda, told The Gleaner yesterday that winning the seat would be "a challenging task".

"But I am prepared to fight," she said.

"Just as David was able to beat Goliath, I am sure I will be able to do the same, sooner or later," she told The Gleaner.

Philips, a 31-year-old businesswoman, was selected by the PNP last week to contest the seat. She takes over the reins from Paul Burke, who has been chairman of the constituency.

PNP President Portia Simpson Miller had said Burke would be the party's candidate. However, party insiders say he was playing a holding role in the seat until a candidate was identified.

North Central St Andrew is a safe seat for the JLP. It was won by Samuda by 2,766 votes. Some 9,458 of the more than 17,000 voters went to the polls in that election.