Bloomfield's ouster to be overturned

Despite being defeated in an internal election last month, embattled Member of Parliament for East Portland Dr Lynvale Bloomfield appears to be on the verge of being rescued by the hierarchy of the People's National Party (PNP).

The Gleaner understands that a decision to retain the incumbent MP as candidate for the next general election was made more than 24 hours ago and revealed during a meeting held at PNP headquarters last night.

A senior party official who was at the meeting, but who asked not to be named, said Bloomfield's many appeals found favour with the party's secretariat, which, until press time, was still locked in a discussion at PNP headquarters with a delegation from East Portland, including attorney Andrea Moore, mayor of Port Antonio, Wayne McKenzie and other councillors. They were being urged to cooperate with the decision, which was not yet disclosed to the public.

In September, Moore defeated Bloomfield 141 to 133 in an internal selection held at Port Antonio High School, which saw 274 out of the 360 delegates eligible to vote casting their ballots.

Insult to delegates

The decision by the delegates on September 7 suggested there would be a changing of the guard in East Portland.

But with news now emerging that a decision has been made to overturn the result of the September 7 internal selection, delegate Derrick Samson, has declared that it "could plunge the constituency into further turmoil, as the much-talked-about democratic process has been trampled on".

Said Sampson: "Should they reverse the decision made by the delegates, it would be an insult. The delegates spoke in September and the system of democracy should prevail."

rural@gleanerjm.com