Atkinson accepted by some North Trelawny supporters

WESTERN BUREAU:

People's National Party (PNP) supporters in North Trelawny are seemingly now singing a tune of acceptance for attorney-at-law Patrick Atkinson, who has been endorsed by the party's executive as the man to replace outgoing Member of Parliament Dr Patrick Harris.

"Anybody the PNP send to represent we, a dem we a work with," shouted a party worker who declined to give her name as she quickly sought to dismiss questions by The Gleaner in Falmouth Tuesday.

Others were unwilling to share their views on the change in attitude and their acceptance of Atkinson over the former PNP Youth Organisation President Damion Crawford.

All they were prepared to say was: "We will just work with him."

fiery protest

These statements are in stark contrast to those expressed in the constituency last week, when party supporters protested in Falmouth and even burnt shirts bearing the image of party leader Portia Simpson Miller when they heard that Atkinson was tapped to be their new representative.

"When the process is completed then I will speak on the matter, but as we speak, I cannot offer an opinion on the matter. I wouldn't impose my ideas on them without having a discussion with them first," was all Atkinson would say.

The PNP, in a release Monday night, said: "The executive reaffirmed that it was the right of the party president to make the final determination on the matter of candidate selection in constituencies such as North Trelawny, which is a provisional constituency according to the party's constitution."

Atkinson is a two-time defeated parliamentary candidate, having contested polls for the Jamaica Labour Party.

Meanwhile, the PNP has established an investigative team to probe the recent protest by persons in North Trelawny. The team, which will be chaired by former attorney-at-law and former member of parliament for Central Manchester, John Junor, will include PNP vice-presidents Angela Brown-Burke and Fenton Ferguson; PNP National Executive Council member, James Walsh; and party executive member Sophia Lowe.