Betty Ann Blaine seeks to replace Warmington

Betty Ann Blaine has announced that she will be running as the candidate for her New Nation Coalition (NNC) party in the upcoming South West St Catherine by-election.

In a release announcing her candidacy yesterday, Blaine said she wanted to make it clear that she decided "to run, not against former member of parliament Everald Warmington, but for the people of South West St Catherine and for the people of Jamaica in support of respect, decency, civility and good manners".

"We at New Nation Coalition believe that the people of South West St Catherine deserve to be represented by someone who upholds good family values - who provides a positive example for our children to follow," Blaine said.

Call for support

She called on Jamaicans to get behind the campaign, and for supporters of both the Jamaica Labour Party and the People's National Party to join the NNC.

"I am calling on the decent, hard-working people of St Catherine to reject the politics of disrespect and disregard for the people, and embrace a new, clean type of politics. I am calling on churches, non-governmental organisations and other civil-society groups. In fact, I am calling on all Jamaicans who are prepared to 'be the change' to join the National Coalition campaign. And I am sending out a very special call for members of the Jamaican diaspora to come on board," Blaine said.

The NNC candidate said she was no stranger to St Catherine, having attended St Catherine Primary and worked with non-governmental organisations and other community groups in the Spanish Town area.

"I look forward to representing the people of St Catherine as their next parliamentarian," said Blaine.

NNC was launched in July 2010 with the promise of "a new kind of politics, with a forthright and inclusive type of political engagement".

Last month, the NNC established the National Coalition with the National Democratic Movement.