Front-runners emerge in PLP candidate selection process
By BRENT DEAN ~ Guardian Senior Reporter ~ brentldean@nasguard.com:
Front-runners are emerging in the Progressive Liberal Party's consideration process for the Pinewood, South Beach and Kennedy constituencies, The Nassau Guardian has learned.
Party sources have confirmed that attorney Randol Dorsett is the front-runner for the Pinewood nomination, attorneys Keith Bell and Dion Smith for the Kennedy nomination and attorney Myles Laroda for the South Beach seat.
The PLP is active in its candidate selection process, having already named four candidates for the next general election.
Jerome Fitzgerald (Marathon), Michael Halkitis (Golden Isles), Hope Strachan (Sea Breeze) and Dr. Kendal Major (Garden Hills) were the first to be ratified by the party.
With the public announcement this week by former PLP Pinewood MP Allyson Maynard-Gibson that she will not seek a nomination to run in the next general election, party insiders said Dorsett currently is the "lead horse" in the race to succeed her as the party's next area candidate.
However, it is understood that there is competition for the Kennedy nomination. Former PLP MP Franklyn Wilson supports attorney Keith Bell. Bell works as an attorney at Sunshine Finance, which is a part of the Sunshine Group of Companies, of which Wilson is chairman.
Attorney Dion Smith is said to have good support among young people in the party. Sources said Smith had an impressive group of young supporters at an event at PLP headquarters last week.
After the sudden death several months ago of the PLP's likely candidate for the South Beach constituency attorney Dwayne Hanna, new faces emerged for consideration.
Sources said that Laroda has the support of the PLP's South Beach branch executive and influential stalwart councilors in the area.
The party is in the advanced stage of determining who will be its candidate for South Beach.
Others up for consideration by the party in that constituency include: Attorneys Fayne Thompson and Romauld Ferreira, former Young Liberals leader Viraj Perpall, Dr. Lynwood Brown and 2007 area candidate Wallace Rolle.
The PLP has also interviewed numerous female potential candidates. Some have been interviewed for specific areas, like (Paulette Zonicle for St. Cecilia). Party sources said others, such as attorney Cheryl Bazard and banker Gina Brown, are also under consideration to be candidates, though no area has yet been selected.
May 21, 2010
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