Golding installs Patmore as PNP’s candidate in Trelawny Southern
Published:Saturday | August 17, 2024 | 12:08 AMLeon Jackson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Popular funeral home director, Paul Patmore, was officially unveiled by Opposition Leader Mark Golding on Thursday night as the People’s National Party (PNP) candidate for Trelawny Southern at a colourful constituency conference in Albert Town Square, which was preceded by a massive motorcade.
Golding, who was seemingly impressed by the overwhelming show of support for Patmore in a constituency which was handsomely won by the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert in the 2020 general election, was all smiles as he introduced the popular 53-year-old businessman.
“It is with a sense of humility and pride that I formally present to you the next candidate for the next general election, Paul Patmore,” said Golding, who confidently added that he expects Patmore to switch the constituency to the PNP’s column when the next general election, which is constitutionally due next year, is called.
Patmore, whose previous engagement in politics was when he contested and won the Lorrimers division as an independent candidate in 2012 and served until 2016, said he is ready to take up the challenge and win the seat.
In September 2023, Dalrymple-Philibert resigned as both speaker of the House of Representatives and member of parliament for Trelawny Southern after the Integrity Commission accused her of making false statements in her statutory declarations.
“I accept this challenge with great humility and promise to serve you and look about your needs,” Patmore told the gathering, against a backdrop of raucous cheers and deafening vuvuzelas.
“I would love the people on the other side to send Dalrymple (Philibert) as their candidate so that I can give her a sound beating.”
‘GET CERTIFIED OR TEK WEH HIMSELF’
Golding noted that, like Dalrymple-Philibert, Prime Minister Andrew Holness is caught up in issues involving the Integrity Commission that he urgently needs to address.
“We have a prime minister who is in problems with the Integrity Commission. He has not had his report certified. I call on him to get certified or tek weh himself,” said Golding.
The PNP president also took issue with the Government’s handling of the education and health sectors, which he said are not being efficiently run, forcing teachers and nurses to find overseas jobs.
“We now have to be importing teachers. This is because we are getting substandard results. We need to provide resources that will enable our graduates to stay here and not feel the need to go to other countries to make it,” Golding said.
“The health system is in a crisis. We have a minister whose expertise is in public relations. When you go to the hospital, you cannot get a bed, you have to sleep on bench or in a wheelchair. Drugs are not available, and you have to purchase it at a price you can ill afford.”
In highlighting Trelawny Southern, which is currently producing 72 per cent of Jamaica’s yam export, as an area with great agricultural potential, Golding said a leader of the quality of Patmore is needed to inspire the farmers to realise their fullest potential.
“We need to put in place mechanisms that will make farmers reap success from their labour. Agriculture must not be seen as poor cousin to other professions. There must be opportunities for farmers to be involved in agro processing as a means of diversifying their earning power,” said Golding.