All candidates still in play for NDP ticket in East Kingstown

It is suspected that a decision will be made “quite soon” on who will run in the East Kingstown constituency on the New Democratic Party (NDP) ticket. 

Until then, all prospective candidates are still being considered. 

So says, Tyrone James, the NDP General Secretary in response to reports that the party’s former president, Arnhim Eustace, had endorsed Fitz Bramble, one of the prospective candidates for the East Kingstown seat. 

“I don’t know if Mr Eustace endorsed him. From what I understand, Mr Eustace was acknowledging the number of persons who were expressing their support for him…” James told SEARCHLIGHT.

“…What I was told was that he was responding to the number of interest that was being poured out on the radio and so on in relation to Fitz as being the candidate, but the process, I will say is still in train.” 

Restating on radio last week that he would not be contestant the next General Election, Eustasce said, however that the party was woken to ensure that there is a successful candidate poised for the East Kingstown seat. 

“…and I think Mr Bramble would make a successful president for the New Democratic Party, based on what I am hearing from the public,” he said. “That is the situation as I know it and I’m looking forward for us to make an announcement to our Central Committee, very soon. That is the present situation.” 

James told SEARCHLIGHT that there were four persons being considered to contest for the party in the East Kingstown seat.

They are Bramble, an economist and former diplomat; Frank Monty Clarke, an accountant and former diplomat; Kevern Cyrus, an accountant; and Truman Quashie, a businessman and former banker. 
James said there was a process that must take place before a candidate can be named and they are awaiting the outcome of stage one of the process. 

He explained that in this phase the “constituency makes a selection and it is then passed on to the president who then move to the Central Committee…for ratification “. 

He revealed that the Constituency Council met two weeks ago and the party is awaiting a decision, if one in fact was made. 

“So I suspect sometime, probably next week, we may know if that was done…but all persons are still being considered as far as I know, but we suspect a decision will be forthcoming quite soon “.