PNP's Paul Patmore laments long wait to elect new Trelawny Southern MP

The People's National Party (PNP) representative for Trelawny Southern is criticising the Government for not moving to ensure that a new member of Parliament is elected, eight months after Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert resigned.

"In 2019, sitting MP Dr Lynvale Bloomfield died in February, and a by-election was called in April of the same year," said Paul Patmore of the opposition party.

"Why is South Trelawny treated with such disrespect by the governing party?"

Hugh Dixon, a resident in the constituency argued that "this lack of representation is a constitutional breach". 

The JLP's Dalrymple-Philibert resigned both as Speaker of House of the Representatives and as MP in September 2023 after the Integrity Commission brought corruption-related charges against her.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who has the authority to call the election, has not given any indication when he will do so and whether one will be held before parliamentary elections due by September 2025. 

Earlier Thursday, PNP General Secretary Dr Dayton Campbell announced Patmore as the party's representative at a meeting of the constituency executive.

Patmore is returning to the political field after serving as an independent councillor for the Lorrimers Division in the Trelawny Municipal Corporation between 2008 and 2012.

- Leon Jackson

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