VERNA PARCHMENT of the JLP intends to make history in St. Ann North West. Since the victory of the JLP's Princess Lawes over then sitting Member of Parliament Arnold Bertram of the PNP in the 1980 general election, the JLP is yet to score another victory in the constituency. After two successes in 1989 and in 1993, Burchell Whiteman made way for the return of Arnold Bertram in 1997.

With memories of the 1980 elections still lingering in their minds, the JLP has opted for another female candidate to wrestle the seat from Mr. Bertram, after dropping former caretaker Rich Thompson earlier this year.

Mrs. Parchment, a registered nurse, is a newcomer to representational politics, but one who feels she has the qualities to make a good parliamentarian. Also contesting this seat is businessman Michael Asher, who will be representing the NDM.

The 39-year-old Mrs. Parchment said she is no stranger to the constituency, being from neighbouring St. Ann North East and growing up in Runaway Bay; she now lives in the constituency.

WILL DO ALL POSSIBLE

Having worked overseas for sometime, she said that on her return home she decided, based on her love for people, to offer her services to the constituency and the country as a whole. Mrs. Parchment, who became the JLP caretaker for the constituency just under five months ago, said she sees an urgent need for road repairs and improved water supplies in several sections of the constituency, in addition to increased job opportunities.

While she has not yet been able to work out any definite plans to address those matters, Mrs. Parchment said she will be doing all that is possible to get the job done, if she becomes the next MP.

PART OF THE SOLUTION

The NDM's Asher is one candidate who feels that he needs no introduction to St. Ann North Western, having lived there for 22 years. Apart from having large posters of himself mounted on light poles throughout the constituency for some months now, Asher is well-known as a resident of the constituency, who has over the years contributed much to education and other development in the constituency.

Asher sees unemployment as a major problem affecting the constituency. He said part of the solution could be the establishment of a port-of-call for cruise ships using the under-used Kaiser pier at Discovery Bay. The NDM candidate said that with cruise ship visitors coming into Discovery Bay, Brown's Town would stand to benefit and could also become a hub for tourism in St. Ann North West, if the town was properly rehabilitated and its cultural legacy exposed.

DONE ENOUGH

Mr. Bertram, who is defending a majority of 1,600 votes following his victory over the JLP's Ernest Smith and the NDM's Geoffrey Waugh in the 1997 elections, said he had done enough for the constituents to allow him to continue for another term as MP.

He is boasting that in four-and-a-half years he had improved more road networks in the constituency than had been done in 10 years. He said a lot more work on roads was being done as well as improvement to water supplies in several communities.

However, in welcoming the improved facilities at Addison Park, residents of Discovery Bay, Salem and Philadelphia are still awaiting the resumption of work on their playfields which was halted shortly after the last elections. The constituency enjoys a fair share of the tourist industry on the coast from Salem to Discovery Bay and the MP also has vision of extending tourism business to the upper regions of the constituency through the development of attractions, including the Minard Great House and the promotion of sports programmes involving visitors to the island.

There are over 700 new electors on the voters' list in this constituency and while Mr. Bertram is confident of scoring another electoral victory, Mrs. Parchment, despite her relatively short time in the constituency, said she is prepared to send him into retirement.

The main towns in St. Ann North West are Bamboo, Salem, Runaway Bay, Discovery Bay and Brown's Town, regarded as the educational capital of St. Ann. In Brown's Town, there are three high schools, St. Hilda's High, York Castle High and Brown's Town High. There are also the Brown's Town Community College and two primary schools, Servite Primary and Brown's Town Primary.