Saphire To Replace Bartlett

[Skeng DX]

Dr St Aubyn Bartlett's days as a junior minister of government have come to an end.

The Eastern St Andrew member of parliament also seems set to be replaced as the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) standard-bearer in the constituency by psychiatrist Dr Saphire Longmore-Dropinski.

Bartlett stepped down as junior national security minister on Tuesday night.

"I resigned because I have certain personal matters to take care of," he told The Gleaner yesterday.

In the meantime, Longmore-Dropinski told The Gleaner "it is highly possible" that she will replace Bartlett as the JLP candidate for the next general election.

"There is no definite confirmation," the psychiatrist said, while noting she was "still in the consideration phase".

Double blow

Bartlett was dealt a double blow on Tuesday when an internal poll found that he had lost favour with many of his constituents and faced certain defeat in Eastern St Andrew.

"It has a bearing on my decision," Bartlett admitted.

"In case anything happens, I don't want to be disadvantaged. My personal and family interests are of paramount interest. I have to take care of those before I can take care of anyone else."

Bartlett, a two-term MP, in 2002 unseated the People's National Party's (PNP) Colin Campbell. He then turned back the challenge of Professor Trevor Munroe in 2007.

[Skeng DX]

Constituents stand behind Bartlett

SUPPORTERS of East St Andrew Member Of Parliament (MP) Dr St Aubyn Bartlett today gathered at party headquarters on Belmont Road, protesting what seems to be a decision by party heads to replace their MP.

Bartlett, who tendered his resignation as a state minister yesterday, has vowed to fight for his constituency, even as reports have surfaced that he is to be replaced by the party.

This, after some of his inner-city constituents lashed out against his style as a political representative and swore not to vote if the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) retained him on the election ticket.

However, in what appeared to be a twist today, over a dozen supporters gathered at the JLP office to cast their support for Bartlett.
"We want Bartlett, no Bartlett, no vote," one of the protesters said.
Requests by the Observer to get further information were turned down, as the group was quickly ushered into the JLP headquarters into what this reporter was told was a private meeting.

The news team was also asked to leave the grounds of the JLP headquarters.
Bartlett has expressed confidence that he will take home the seat for the JLP if he is kept on the election ticket.

The MP said the public should not be swayed by television sound bites showing disgruntled constituents hitting out at him because it was not the complete story.

"The majority of the constituency supports me. Sixty per cent of the constituents are middle class and most of that block of voters support me," Bartlett said.



Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/lates...#ixzz1dL3wpcHT

[Mosiah]

Could the Gleaner find a picture of the lady that doesn't look she just stepped out of the shower? Geez!

[Muadib]

yuh have sumting against showah pics ?

[Mosiah]

LOL!

No. Sorry! Stepped into that one!

[Muadib]

no prob, when yuh step innah di showah is like being born again.. ask Hay Webster..

[Sickko]

Could the Gleaner find a photo of the former beauty queen stepping out of the shower?

[Mosiah]

That's what I really wanted to ask. Thanks!

[Exile]

Yu looking for the naked truth..as usual.

[Exile]

Yes, only when they come with dirty green posses...

[Skeng DX]

Bartlett dropped for former beauty queen

A spirited march on the Belmont Road headquarters of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) by supporters of embattled Member of Parliament (MP) for Eastern St Andrew, Dr St Aubyn Bartlett, was not enough to prevent his replacement by former beauty queen Dr Saphire Longmore-Dropinski.

Yesterday, while the shouts of irate protesters reverberated outside, JLP powerbrokers met with Dr Longmore-Dropinski before finally rendering their verdict; she would be formally added to the ruling party's list of election candidates, Observer sources said.

A supporter of East St Andrew member of parliament Dr St Aubyn Bartlett stands at Jamaica Labour Party Belmont Road headquarters with her placard to voice her concern over reports that Bartlett could be replaced. (Photo: Karl McLarty)


The development means it is too late for Dr Bartlett — who cited personal reasons for his decision to tender his resignation as state minister of national security on Tuesday — to keep his promise to fight for his constituency. He made the vow after the reports that he is to be replaced by the party first surfaced on Wednesday.

The MP's decision to step down also came following an internal poll that found that he had lost favour with many of his constituents and faced certain defeat in the impending election.

Some of his inner-city constituents have also lashed out against his style as a political representative and swore not to vote if the JLP retained him on the election ticket.

However, yesterday, more than a dozen supporters gathered at the JLP office in a show of support for Bartlett.

"We want Bartlett! No Bartlett, no vote," one of the protesters shouted.
Requests by the Observer to get more from the group were fruitless as the protesters were quickly ushered inside the building for what the Observer was told was a private meeting.

The news team was also asked to leave the grounds of the JLP headquarters.
Up to press time last night, there was still no official word as to the outcome of the meeting.

Bartlett recently expressed confidence that he would take home the seat for the JLP if he is kept on the election ticket.
Yesterday, the MP declined to comment at length on the development when contacted.

"The people have added their voice to the matter and that is all that I will say at this time," he said.

The MP recently said that the public should not be swayed by television sound bites showing disgruntled constituents hitting out at him, because their version did not represent the complete story.

"The majority of the constituency supports me. Sixty per cent of the constituents are middle-class and most of that block of voters support me," said the two-term MP who unseated the People's National Party's Colin Campbell in 2002 and later rebuffed a challenge by Professor Trevor Munroe in 2007.


Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...#ixzz1dOwD76l3

[Gamma]

"posses"? "posies"? "possies"?

[Mosiah]

possés!

[Gamma]

accent ova di "e" ....

[Mosiah]

there you go!