WESTERN BUREAU:

NOMINATION DAY in western Jamaica proceeded without incident, with large crowds of supporters from the two major political parties accompanying their candidates to the respective centres.

In the five western parishes, the People's National Party (PNP) and the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) each nominated 59 candidates, while the National Democratic Movement (NDM) and the People's Progressive Party (PPP) each nominated one candidate. Four independent candidates were also nominated.

Prime Minister P.J. Patterson led the four PNP candidates in his constituency of Eastern Westmoreland to the nomination centre at the Maud Mcleod High School in Darliston. The four-member JLP team was led by the constituency caretaker, Don Foote.

Former PNP Member of Parliament, Trevor Ruddock, was among the five candidates nominated for the party in Central Westmoreland. Mr. Ruddock served as MP for Western Westmoreland between 1993 and 1997. Neville Carroll, a former PNP councillor was nominated as an independent candidate for the Frome Division. He served as councillor from 1986 to 1998.

In Eastern Hanover, the PNP's Aston King Jr. was accompanied by his mother, the Custos of the parish Mavis Whitter-King, who was one of the signatories to the list of persons nominating him. Another of Mr. King's signatories was Winston Malcolm, who contested last October's General Election as a candidate for the United People's Party (UPP). Six candidates in all were nominated in the constituency.

Leonard Sharpe was the only NDM candidate nominated in western Jamaica in the Green Island division in Western Hanover. Four candidates each were nominated for the PNP and the JLP.

Nine candidates including one from the People's Progressive Party (PPP) will contest the four divisions in the Local Govern-ment elections in West Central St James.

Clifford Barnett, a 39-year-old businessman of Mt Salem has been nominated to contest the Mt Salem division against incumbent Gerard Mitchell of the PNP and former deputy Mayor Berlyn Thompson of the JLP. Former PNP Member of Parliament Patrick Rose-Green was also nominated to contest the Salt Spring division.

HITCH

There was just one slight hitch to the proceedings at the Granville Primary School. The JLP's candidate for the Salt Spring Division Trevor 'Trickster' Parkinson failed to produce his TRN number and had to go back for it returning just before mid-day.

In Northwest St. James the PNP and the JLP each nominated six candidates, with JLP Senator Bruce Golding and Member of Parliament Dr. Horace Chang accompanying the candidates. Two independents were among the ten candidates nominated in South St. James. The JLP and the PNP each had four candidates.

Former Member of Parliament for North Trelawny Wendell Stewart was nominated as an independent candidate for the Falmouth division. He was one of 19 candidates nominated in the parish, while in St. Elizabeth, 47-year-old farmer Neville Rowe was nominated as an independent candidate for the Siloah division. He is one of 31 candidates registered in the parish