Dear Editor,
Now that the general election has passed, the governing Jamaica Labour Party will have to find a suitable time to call the long-awaited local government elections.
Given that at the moment the Government does not control any of the councils, it has to be very careful with candidate selection and ensure that credible candidates are put up to represent our people at the local level.
While I am a little concerned about the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) candidates for some councils, I must say I am a bit relieved by the new blood being injected to contest the election in the Portmore municipality. Let us start with the installation of Courtney Edwards as councillor caretaker for the Independence City Division in St Catherine South Eastern. While we appreciate the work done by Keith Blake, it was time to change the guard to allow for greater development of the division and the municipality on a whole. Some councillors have been in the council since its inception, and proper city development as well as management have pretty much been non-existent.
Another welcome change is the JLP’s candidate for mayor, Rev Welton Shettlewood. The people of Portmore need a mayor who has a new and fresh approach to development. Not only does the Reverend understand what is needed to make Portmore self-sufficient, but he has a proven track record of programme development, implementation and management, which are lacking in the council.
It has been a while since the JLP sent credible candidates to represent the people of Portmore and I must say I am impressed by the fact that the party is not allowing the fallacy that we are all “Comrades” to deter their push for greater development in Portmore.
Stacy-Ann Palmer
Portmore, St Catherine
stacyapalmer@rocketmail.com
Now that the general election has passed, the governing Jamaica Labour Party will have to find a suitable time to call the long-awaited local government elections.
Given that at the moment the Government does not control any of the councils, it has to be very careful with candidate selection and ensure that credible candidates are put up to represent our people at the local level.
While I am a little concerned about the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) candidates for some councils, I must say I am a bit relieved by the new blood being injected to contest the election in the Portmore municipality. Let us start with the installation of Courtney Edwards as councillor caretaker for the Independence City Division in St Catherine South Eastern. While we appreciate the work done by Keith Blake, it was time to change the guard to allow for greater development of the division and the municipality on a whole. Some councillors have been in the council since its inception, and proper city development as well as management have pretty much been non-existent.
Another welcome change is the JLP’s candidate for mayor, Rev Welton Shettlewood. The people of Portmore need a mayor who has a new and fresh approach to development. Not only does the Reverend understand what is needed to make Portmore self-sufficient, but he has a proven track record of programme development, implementation and management, which are lacking in the council.
It has been a while since the JLP sent credible candidates to represent the people of Portmore and I must say I am impressed by the fact that the party is not allowing the fallacy that we are all “Comrades” to deter their push for greater development in Portmore.
Stacy-Ann Palmer
Portmore, St Catherine
stacyapalmer@rocketmail.com