NDM joins race
THE NATIONAL Democratic Movement (NDM) has joined the race to occupy the seat in North West St Ann, nominating as candidate businessman Graham McDonnough Jr to contest the February 25 polls.
McDonnough has joined the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP’s) Othneil Lawrence in the effort to uproot the outgoing member of parliament, the People’s National Party (PNP’s) Dr Dayton Campbell.
Speaking with The Gleaner, McDonnough said the objective was to give the people an alternative other than PNP and JLP.
“It is to give the people an alternative to the hype that the PNP and JLP are offering. It is the development of the mind to move away from the two-party system. We must give the people an alternative.”
McDonnough said the NDM was depending on policies such as removing the Queen as head of State and reducing the size of government to gain favour of the people.
SEVEN NDM CANDIDATES
McDonnough is one of seven candidates offered by the NDM, according to Chairman Michael Williams, spread across St Ann, St Andrew, Hanover, Clarendon, St Catherine and St James.
Williams said an NDM member has decided to run as an independent candidate in St Elizabeth.
McDonnough was one of nine candidates nominated in St Ann to contest the polls later this month.
In South East St Ann, the incumbent Lisa Hanna of the PNP, will go up against Ivan Anderson of the JLP, a former Comrade. I in North East, Keith Walford (PNP) is defending his seat against the JLP’s Zavia Mayne, while in North East, sitting MP, Shahine Robinson (JLP) is being challenged by mayor of St Ann’s Bay, Desmond Gilmore, of the PNP.
Police and military presence was observed at nomination centre in St Ann’s Bay, where Returning Officer Rupert Brown said the process went extremely well.
Both Robinson and Gilmore drew massive crowds, and although paths were crossed on occasions, there existed a level of maturity that ensured there were no negative incidents.