Former PNP mayor seeks to represent JLP in Lawrence’s former NW St Ann seat
Since last week when Ivan Anderson, former Mayor of St Ann’s Bay and former People’s National Party (PNP) councillor announced he has switched to the Jamaica Labour Party and is seeking to be a candidate for the party, tongues have been wagging about the status of former North West St Ann, MP Othneil Lawrence.Mr Lawrence has been caretaker of the constituency since he was defeated by Dr Dayton Campbell in the December 2011 elections.
Speaking at a JLP divisional meeting at the Marcus Garvey Technical High School in St Ann’s Bay on Sunday, November 2, Mr Anderson said he opted to represent the JLP upon request from people he use to represent.Mr Anderson represented the PNP as councillor for the Brown’s Town division for a 10-year stint and was also the chairman of the St Ann Parish Council in 2010. He was however forced to give up that post as chairman and mayor after he was slapped with a multimillion dollar fraud charge. That charge was later dropped and the case against him dismissed. His political woes however continued as he was later expelled from the PNP.
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When the North Coast Times sought to get an answer from the former PNP member about the reasons he decided to join the JLP, Mr Anderson said he did not wish to comment on the matter. He said however that he applied to the JLP to represent the party and it was approved. “I’ve applied to the JLP and the application was approved. I’ve been doing the ground work and made consultations and I think it’s the best thing to do,” Mr Anderson said. When asked in what capacity he would be representing the JLP, Mr Anderson noted that he is seeking to represent in the North West St Ann constituency.Mr Lawrence has not been formally advised about any change in his caretaker status and would not comment on Mr Anderson’s likely challenge for the opportunity to represent the constituency. There are reportedly internal consultations about Lawrence’s continued role as caretaker. Those matters are expected to be decided before the JLP’s annual conference this month.Observers have pointed out that Mr Lawrence may not be in the good books of party leader Andrew Holness after his visible support for Audley Shaw during the leadership challenge.
