St. George’s, March 8, 2012 – Education Minister Franka Alexis-Bernadine, who has been on the team of handpicked ministers on the exclusive caucus tour of Prime Minister Tillman Thomas, is likely to be challenging longtime NDC MP Glynis Roberts for the South St. George seat.

Labour Minister Roberts has been MP for the constituency since 2003, and is a former treasurer of the ruling National Democratic Congress.

At Wednesday’s monthly constituency meeting, a motion was proposed by Jerome Joseph, a founding NDC member, to endorse Roberts as the candidate for the upcoming general elections.

But a group, including Faye Thompson and Shane Ross, opposed the motion.

Thompson accused Joseph of trying to “hijack democracy.’’

Ross claimed that the motion was an attempt to “push things’’ down people’s throats, since it is “known’’ that Bernadine wants to run as the candidate for St. George’s South.

During the meeting, Roberts presented a list of her achievements and indicated that she intends to seek the nomination of her constituents and run for a third term as MP.

Her supporters say they will call a special meeting next month to endorse her as their candidate.

So far, in the run up to general elections due next year, the NDC has endorsed one potential candidate. The party recently elected Works Minister, Dennoth Modeste, as the caretaker for St. Mark.

Bernadine, a relative of the Prime Minister Thomas, is an educator by profession and was active in civic society groups prior to the 2008 general election won 11-4 by the NDC over the New National Party.

Last July, Bernadine ran for the position of NDC deputy chairman but was soundly defeated by Stanford Simon.

She was one of eight senators appointed by the Prime Minister following the 2008 polls. The others were George Prime, Ann Peters, Arley Gill, Glen Noel, Jimmy Bristol, Dr. Pemba Braveboy and Joan Purcell.

Subsequently, Purcell was elected Senate President. Bristol resigned as Attorney General and Braveboy was replaced by Modeste in the Upper House.