Former Morant Bay mayor unveiled as PNP candidate for Western St Thomas
Published:Tuesday | March 25, 2025 | 12:09 AMGareth Davis Sr/Gleaner Writer
St Thomas:
Former Morant Bay Mayor Hubert ‘Ryan’ Williams was on Sunday night presented as the People’s National Party (PNP) standard-bearer for Western St Thomas ahead of the next general election due by September.
It was the party’s president, Mark Golding, who made the presentation to the people of the constituency while stating that he had every confidence in Williams going into an election where the PNP will seek to unseat incumbent James Roberston.
Robertson, a former minister of mining and energy during the period March 2009 to May 2011, has been the member of parliament for that constituency since 2002, winning five consecutive elections on a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) ticket.
However, Golding, who heaped praises on Williams, while describing him as having the ability, potential, and tenacity to deliver at the polls, stated that the former mayor is very organised and has the experience to get the job done.
“Comrades and friends, Hubert ‘Ryan’ Williams is stepping forward as your candidate in the next general elections, “Golding said to the gathering.
“We know the opponent we are up against. We know the way he plays his politics. But wha?… we are the People’s National Party workers and warriors and we will stand firm and deliver the victory for the People’s National Party. After so many years, this is the time. We can do it Comrades.”
According to Golding, it is the intention of the PNP candidate to use agriculture as an economic vehicle for farmers while ensuring that entertainment for the people of Western St Thomas is realised and maintained.
Golding was also quick to point out that those investing in their livelihood, including parties, round robins, and drink-outs, but are facing challenges, will be treated as priority when Williams becomes the next member of parliament.
“Right now we have a system where some likkle arbitrary thing can play and people can find that dem party get lock down and dem don’t have no justice in it. And the system to get the permit is not transparent. And so it is a system of abuse. We want to change that as the next People’s National Party government,” Golding further stated.
Earlier, Williams, who spoke at length, argued that there was need to address the pricing for coffee on the part of farmers in Western St Thomas who, according to him, are grappling with the low price for the berry when compared to what he alleged was anywhere between $14,000 and $16,000 during the last time the PNP was in power, leading up to 2016.
“Those coffee farmers, who is getting only $10,000 a box for coffee, under this wicked Jamaica Labour Party government, will be fixed. Under my watch, no coffee farmer will receive less than $22,000 a box for coffee,” Williams stated.