St. George’s, April 5, 2012 – The NDC St. Patrick West Constituency Branch is moving to formally endorse the party’s candidate for the upcoming general election.
According to the chairman of the Constituency Branch, the national secretariat has already been notified about the planned endorsement that is carded for Wednesday, April 11.
The National Democratic Congress won 11 of 15 seats in 2008, and the next national poll is constitutionally due by the second half of next year.
Current parliamentary representative for St. Patrick West, Hon. Joseph Gilbert, comfortably won the seat in the 2008 general election for the NDC. He is expected to get the endorsement of the branch on April 11.
According to an executive member of the branch: “Uncle Joe has the constituency locked down and is not expected to be challenged at the endorsement meeting.’’
So far, NDC candidates have been endorsed in four constituencies. They are Dennoth Modeste in St. Mark; George Prime in Carriacou and Petite Martinique; Dr. George Vincent in St. John; and Glynis Roberts in St. George South.
In each case, according to the NDC’s constitution, the candidate’s name must be submitted to the party’s national executive for ratification and a final decision.
“Despite having been dismissed from the cabinet by Prime Minister Tillman Thomas in January this year, Joe has continued to gain the respect and support of constituents, especially for his efforts in ensuring that greater development projects come to St. Patrick,’’ Constituency Branch chairman Elphrege Phillip noted.
Gilbert is well known to be pursuing several major infrastructure projects in the Parish of St. Patrick.
Foremost among the signature projects he is championing is the famous Snell Hall Playing Field and Resource Centre, which has mass public support in the constituency.
“Securing land for implementing this project has been a matter of great concern for me and the communities that are due to benefit directly from the facilities,’’ Gilbert told a recent executive meeting.
“The obstacles that are being encountered would not break my resolve in seeing this project through,’’ he pledged.
In recent times, conflicting statements have been issued in the media about the status of the acquisition process of a three-acre lot on which the project is to be constructed.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) issued a release stating that a deal had been brokered with land owner, Ms. Noreen de Gale. But, soon thereafter, the de Gale family categorically refuted the statement as being unfounded.
“Since then,’’ Gilbert observed, “the PMO has been very tight-lipped about the issue, raising speculation that there may be more in the mortar besides the pestle.’’
Other signature projects that have been promoted in MP Gilbert’s ambitious development plan for the parish include: the 16 kilometer-long St. Patrick’s Road Network Upgrade project which is due to commence later this year; Town of Sauteurs Road Network Expansion; St. Patrick’s Cultural Centre; and the St. Patrick’s Port/Marina project.
