Pryce to replace De La Haye
THE PEOPLE’S National Party (PNP) is set to announce Raymond Pryce as its caretaker for St Catherine East Central, the seat vacated by Dr Winston De La Haye last month under controversial circumstances.
General secretary of the PNP, Julian Robinson, told The Gleaner last night that he would not confirm that Pryce was, in fact, the preference to take control of the party but said an announcement would come within a week.
“I don’t want to call any names. We are having final consultations with the constituency, and by next week or so, we should be in a position to name the person,” Robinson said as he made it clear that a person had, indeed, been identified.
Pryce, despite a tumultuous time in the political arena over the past few years, including suffering defeat in Central Kingston against Imani Duncan-Price to replace Ronald Thwaites as chairman of the PNP organisation there, has stayed close to the leadership of the party.
In fact, with the political temperature on the rise with an expected general election by February 2021, Pryce was drafted into the PNP’s inner circle to be the party’s campaign communication’s director.
He had previously been member of parliament for St Elizabeth North East but came under pressure to vacate the constituency after several influential members there wanted him out.
De La Haye resigned from that post following a reported death threat. He made the announcement on his Twitter account.
“I have seen it fit to submit my resignation, with immediate effect,” the political newcomer had said.
De La Haye did not say who had made the threat. The police denied receiving a formal report.
On February 16, De La Haye was officially presented at the Cedar Grove Academy as the PNP’s standard-bearer for the constituency now held by the Jamaica Labour Party’s Alando Terrelonge.
De La Haye replaced the PNP’s Arnaldo Brown, who was defeated by Terrelonge in February 2016 by 479 votes.