St. Andrew North Western constituency up for grabs?

By Racquel Porter   

 

Political commentator Lloyd B. Smith is questioning whether the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) will retain the St. Andrew North Western seat with standard bearer Duane Smith.

 

Mr. Smith, who is the councillor for the Chancery Hall Division and son of the former Member of Parliament Derrick Smith, will finally get a chance to contest the constituency, following the exit of Dr. Nigel Clarke.

 

In January 2018, the senior Smith, who held the seat since 1989, made it clear that his son, Duane, was the right man for the job.

 

But Dr. Nigel Clarke was put up by the party as the candidate for the March 2018 by-election, which he won.

 

Speaking with Radio Jamaica News on Monday, the political commentator, while noting that the constituency was a "safe seat" for the JLP, said it has come under threat.

 

"In recent years, the feedback that I have got is that Dr. Clarke was not a very effective member of Parliament. And so there is the likelihood that there may have been some amount of disaffection in the constituency, and this could lead to a possible shift, depending on how the party is able to shore up Smith in the seat. It could be up for grabs, I think, based on the feedback that I have got. And this is not to blame Dr. Clarke. As I said, he never was cut out to be a politician, and the fact is that his job as Minister of Finance and the Public Service is a very demanding one," reasoned Mr. Smith. 

 

The general election is constitutionally due next year.