Atkinson tipped to represent PNP in next general election

[Skeng DX]

North Trelawny PNP supporters up in arms over Patrick Atkins

Supporters of the Opposition Peoples' National Party (PNP) mounted a fiery protest outside the party's North Trelawny Constituency Office Thursday morning.

The protestors were showing their displeasure about reported plans to install attorney-at-law Patrick Atkinson Q.C as the constituency caretaker.

News of Mr. Atkinson's planned re-entry into representational politics was announced at a closed door constituency meeting Wednesday night.

Hours later, protestors demonstrated outside the party's constituency office demanding that Damion Crawford, the former President of the PNP Youth Organisation, be installed as their caretaker candidate.

"We don't want Patrick Atkinson, no way. We don’t need no loser in North Trelawny, never," said one protestor.

PNP sources have confirmed that following the announcement, angry party members hurled abuse at members of the party’s Campaign Committee, including Dr. Peter Phillips, Campaign Director, and Lisa Hanna, Member of Parliament for South East St. Ann.

A party worker, who asked not to be named, said North Trelawny PNP supporters became livid after news came that another aspirant, Garth Wilkinson, had announced that he would not be the party's standard bearer for the seat.

"We (were) outside when we (saw) that a disturbance was going on. (They said) Garth Wilkinson (had) stepped down and they’re going to give us Patrick Atkinson and we don’t want him. If it’s not Damion Crawford, we don’t want (Atkinson). (They need) to give us a real reason why they don’t want to give us Crawford," a PNP supporter who was at Wednesday night's meeting told RJR News.

Dr. Patrick Harris, the outgoing MP for North Trelawny, who was at the scene of Thursday morning's demonstration, left the scene after failing to control the angry supporters.

http://rjrnewsonline.com/news/politi...trick-atkinson

[Sickko]

He lost the elections badly, if my memory serves me right, by nearly 4000 votes

[Karl]

He lost the elections badly, if my memory serves me right, by nearly 4000 votes

Thanks

[Muadib]

Well done.. thou good and faithful servant..

Explains the zeal during the 'Inquiry'

Oh wait.. mi figget. it was a "search for Truth"

[Skeng DX]

PNP executive endorses Atkinson

It's now official.

Queen's Counsel Patrick Atkinson is to represent to the People's National Party (PNP) in the North Trelawny constituency in the next General Election.

The PNP's executive, at its weekly meeting Monday night, endorsed the recommendation of its Candidates' Selection Panel for Mr. Atkinson to run as the candidate.

News of his endorsement comes four days after a fiery protest by a group of PNP supporters in North Trelawny who rejected his nomination.

They instead called for Damion Crawford, the former President of the PNP Youth Organization to represent them.

A statement issued late Monday night by the PNP said the executive re-affirmed that it was the right of the party president to make the final determination on candidate selection in constituencies such as North Trelawny.

The executive also noted the president’s decision to exercise that authority based on the recommendation of the national selection panel.

It expressed the view that the efforts now underway to consult with all groups, members and supporters in North Trelawny will result in an acceptance of Mr. Atkinson's candidacy.

Junor heads team to probe protest against Atkinson’s candidacy

In the meantime, the PNP's sxecutive has established an investigative team to probe Thursday's protest in North Trelawny.

It will be chaired by John Junor, the former Member of Parliament for Central Manchester.

The other members are Angela Brown-Burke and Dr. Fenton Ferguson, who are PNP Vice Presidents; James Walsh, a National Executive Council member and Sophia Lowe, a party executive member.

The investigative team will determine what occurred during the protest, who the protestors were, what were the causes of the protest, which person or persons were responsible for organising the activity, and whether any party rules were broken during the demonstration.

The team is to report expeditiously to the PNP executive for any necessary disciplinary or other actions to be taken.

http://rjrnewsonline.com/news/politi...orses-atkinson