LISA WIN AGEN

EMBATTLED Member of Parliament for St Ann South Eastern Lisa Hanna was yesterday selected by delegates to return as the representative for the People’s National Party (PNP) in upcoming parliamentary elections as the challenge mounted to her leadership fizzled amidst a quarrel over the voters’ list.

Hanna, whose stewardship of the constituency came under heavy scrutiny in recent months, was challenged by Councillor Lydia Richards (Bensonton Division).

Of the 484 delegates who participated in the selection exercise, 468 voted for Hanna, 10 voted for Richards, while six votes were spoilt. A total of 1,056 delegates were eligible to vote.

Richards, who had expressed concerns over the voters’ list, was a no-show. She told the Jamaica Observer by phone yesterday that she had indicated to the party’s Secretariat that she was not comfortable with the list.

“There are too many inaccuracies and I have been writing to the general secretary back and forth about this. When he gave me the list on Friday, nothing was changed. He did not even look into one of the things that I mentioned,” Richards argued.

“I could not contest with that, but I’m still there. So I’m hoping that they will come to their senses and realise that you cannot move forward with lies,” she said.

Richards charged that, even with her concerns, the party’s Secretariat had not contacted her, but decided to move forward with the voting.

“I am not coming,” she said.

Chief among her concerns was the argument that people were listed as being members of groups to which they had no knowledge. It was further alleged that people’s signatures were also forged to indicate that they were members of these groups.

The Jamaica Observer sought clarity on the matter and was told by PNP Deputy General Secretary Julian Robinson that up to Saturday Richards had indicated that she would participate.

“You cannot operate in a flux. Up to yesterday (Saturday) Lydia indicated that she would be participating, which is why there are two names on the ballot,” Robinson said.

“I am here to conduct a selection exercise and that is what I am here to do today,” an obviously annoyed Robinson added.

Voting began promptly at 10:00 am and progressed steadily and without incident until three minutes to 4 o’clock when the gates were officially closed.

Scores of Hanna supporters streamed into Ferncourt High School in Claremont in the parish, while there was no noticeable support for the councillor, with some Hanna supporters insisting that Richards was hiding.

“You can’t swap black dog fi monkey,” said Donna Thomas, a Hanna supporter.

“Ah town mi come all di way from fi support Lisa. Ah she fi win. She a beauty, and she is for young people,” said one woman who gave her name as Lilith.

Other Hanna supporters echoed similar sentiments, insisting that she was doing “a good” job in the constituency.

“Weh Lydia she come from? She si power and want power, but she haffi wait her turn,” another Hanna supporter shouted.

Several party stalwarts were also present, including veteran Senator K D Knight, John Junor, Member of Parliament for St Catherine Eastern Denise Daley, Region Six Chairman Ian Hayles, former treasurer of the party Norman Horne, and Member of Parliament for St Mary Western Joylan Silvera.

In the meantime, Hanna, who is not enjoying the support of three of four councillors, yesterday told the Observer she was confident of victory at the polls.

Following the announcement, Hanna said: “I am just very grateful. I am thankful to everyone who participated, particularly those group members and Comrades in South East St Ann who came out today, and [I am] thanking my team members and the PNP on the whole.

“It has been a very humbling and sobering experience, but at the same time a great experience. It has reconfirmed and bolstered my love and support for my people in St Ann,” Hanna said to loud chants of “Lisa, Lisa, Lisa!”

As to how the two-term member of parliament plans to address the obvious divide within the constituency? Hanna remains mum.

“We’ll tell you a little more about that, but right now we’re just thankful and we’re just going to settle down and go and enjoy ourselves a little bit,” she told the Observer.

Hanna will now await ratification from the party’s executive council, which is the highest decision-making body outside of its annual conference, before she can be put forward as the candidate.