O’Connor confident of re-election in Crofts Hill
SHOULD THE People’s National Party’s (PNP’s) Anthony O’Connor get re-elected as councillor in the Crofts Hill division in Clarendon Northern, he will put the community’s youth in the spotlight with plans to use a skills-training programme to help revitalise the area.
Speaking with The Gleaner on nomination day for the local government elections, which are due February 26, O’Connor explained that, because the area is a farming community, he would love to get unengaged youngsters – those not attending a tertiary institution or working – to get training in farming or hospitality.
For this to be accomplished, he said, there has to be “a working relationship with the member of parliament (the Jamaica Labour Party’s Dwight Sibblies)”so that such activities could be housed at the community centre in the Morant housing scheme.
O’Connor further expressed the view that that he is also quite keen on infrastructure and getting water into the areas not currently being served, noting that the municipal corporation has to help supply water.
In the 2016 local election, O’Connor defeated Kent Gammon of the Jamaica Labour Party by more than 2,000 votes.
He stated that there was a great turnout of PNP supporters on Thursday, as they were very “upbeat ... and want to give their support to the People’s National Party once again”.
“We are finding that both the youth and the grassroots PNP [supporters] are back on board,” he added.
O’Connor said he has a strong chance of being returned, as the Crofts Hill division traditionally votes for the PNP.
“I have no doubt in my mind that they will not stop doing so, and I believe it will be a bigger turnout than the last local government [elections], and even the last general election,” he added.