PNP again seeking to ease tension over candidate selection for St. Catherine South Eastern

There’s unrest again among some People's National Party supporters in St Catherine South Eastern over the candidate selected to represent the party in the general election due next year.

Medical Practitioner Dr Alfred Dawes was last year chosen over Alrick Campbell, councillor for the Edgewater division.

Some supporters initially raised objection to the selection, but following the intervention of the party's hierarchy, tempers appeared to have cooled.

However, there is now a stand-off, with supporters of Mr Campbell who have refused to work for the party, unless it agrees to another run-off between the two men.

This prompted PNP president Mark Golding and other senior party members to call an emergency meeting at the constituency office in Portmore Saturday night.

Radio Jamaica News spoke with one of the supporters from the Edgewater division, who claimed that Dr Dawes has been disrespectful to those who support Councillor Campbell.

He disclosed that the PNP President explained that the party was in the process of creating its slate of ministers, should it win the general election, and Dr Dawes would become health minister.

The issue has resurfaced ahead of a workers’ meeting, scheduled for Sunday in the constituency.

Mr Golding has declined to say whether there will be a candidate run-off in the constituency.

He spoke with Radio Jamaica’s St. Catherine correspondent, Devon Fletcher, following the emergency meeting, saying more dialogue would be required to achieve consensus.

Dr Dawes said a decision was made to not comment on what transpired at the meeting, but he was pleased with the outcome.