Garwin Davis and Shelly-Ann Thompson, Gleaner Writers

Lisa Hanna

The endorsement of Lisa Hanna by former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson as the People's National Party (PNP) candidate for South East St. Ann has not spared his successor, Portia Simpson Miller, from the harsh criticism being levelled against her by constituents.

In fact, Mrs. Simpson Miller's handling of the selection process to find a replacement for Aloun Assamba in the impending general election has been described as "inept at best", and has reportedly led to a breakdown of trust between the party hierarchy and "comrades on the ground", according to a senior member of the constituency executive.

A slap in the face

According to Courtney Wallace, chairman of the Moneague division and a member of the constituency executive in South East St. Ann, the Prime Minister's decision to simply endorse the candidacy of the former Miss World without consulting members of the constituency executive was a slap in the face of democracy.

"I told the Prime Minister in the meeting the other night that in the final analysis it is the people of South East St. Ann who will determine who the next Member of Parliament will be," Mr. Wallace told The Gleaner yesterday. "I told her that it is tragic that the party would go the route of imposing someone without any form of consultation with the people on the ground."

But Mr. Patterson is backing Ms. Hanna to take home the seat for the PNP.

Speaking with The Gleaner yesterday at the Special Constabulary Force Association's 23rd annual joint central conference at the Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston, Mr. Patterson said Ms. Hanna was a suitable candidate who can contribute to nation building.

"She happens to be a person with a profound sense of what is required in terms of national development for Jamaica at this time," he stressed.

"... (And we ought not) simply dismiss (her) because she happens also to be a beautiful person," he added.

At the same time, Mr. Patterson said he has not been approached to remedy the situation that now exists regarding Ms. Hanna's selection.

"That has been handled by the persons presently who occupy offices in the party," he said.

When contacted yesterday the former Miss World refused to elaborate on the issue.

"I am not in a position at this time to make a comment regarding politics," said Ms. Hanna.

Currently a public relations officer at the Hilton Kingston Hotel, Miss Hanna said that she was concentrating on arranging her workplace sponsored K.I.D.S charity event that takes place this weekend.

"Right now I am trying to construct three basic schools," she said.

The controversy surrounding her selection is not likely to go away soon as, when asked whether members of the constituency were briefed in advance that the party had arrived at a decision on a candidate, Mr. Wallace said: "We were hearing the decision at the meeting for the first time. Everyone, including Comrade Seymour Mullings, the longest serving MP in the history of the constituency - was hearing Lisa Hanna's name for the first time." Ambassador Mullings represented the constituency for 32 years.

Mrs. Simpson Miller told members of the South East St. Ann constituency at the party's Hope Road, St. Andrew headquarters on Monday that the party had decided on using Ms. Hanna as its candidate in the upcoming general elections.

What the Prime Minister was not banking on however was the kind of resistance to the announcement which forced her to lose her cool in the meeting. When one audience member dared to use the analogy that all it takes is for one match to start a big fire, Mrs. Simpson Miller had heard enough.

"Why do you think a person has to be born within a constituency in order to represent that constituency," she yelled while jumping to her feet. "I was not born in my constituency yet I have been the MP there for years. This is the People's National Party and nobody is going to hold it to ransom. You think we cannot win the election without winning South East St. Ann? I would rather you find a new leader than having anybody hijack the values of the People's National Party".

Mr. Wallace added that the party had better listen to the voices of the people before going forward with what he called "an ill-advised move".He said: "The people's candidate is Sheree Brown McDonald and the party should not try and ignore. It is not too late to reverse that Lisa Hanna decision. It is not too late to do the right thing".