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Senator Delano Seiveright, the country’s state minister for tourism, has been confirmed as the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) representative for the North Central St Andrew constituency in the upcoming general election.
“I’m honoured by the strong support from residents across North Central St Andrew and beyond. We fully trust the Jamaica Labour Party’s fair and transparent processes. We remain focused on the work, listening, serving, and building with purpose,” he said. The announcement comes after weeks of internal turmoil within the party over who would succeed veteran Member of Parliament Karl Samuda in the constituency that he has represented since 1980.
Seiveright emerged early as the frontrunner, publicly expressing his interest in the seat. But attorney Christian Tavares-Finson, who is the son of Senate President and JLP stalwart Tom Tavares-Finson, also entered the race.
Tensions escalated when supporters and workers confronted JLP General Secretary Dr Horace Chang over the delay in selecting a candidate for the constituency, warning him against the party using favouritism to decide Samuda’s successor. Both Seiveright and Tavares-Finson eventually withdrew their candidacies last month. Supporters of Seiveright even took to the streets, insisting that the junior minister in the tourism ministry was the best candidate.
Seiveright is expected to face the People’s National Party’s Christopher Henry in the general election. Seiveright previously contested the Eastern St Thomas seat in the 2016 general election, losing to then-incumbent Dr Fenton Ferguson.
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