Independent Candidate in South Trelawny By-Election Confident of Victory

Independent candidate in the by-election for the constituency of South Trelawny, Lloyd Gillings, says his chances of securing victory are stronger, despite four losses at the polls since his departure from from the Jamaica Labour Party, JLP.

Gillings was speaking on Nationwide This Morning on Tuesday.

Mahiri Stewart has that story.

Gillings won the Albert Town division in South Trelawny twice before, both times on a JLP ticket. However, following his switch to the People’s National Party, PNP in 2013, his fortunes have changed.

He has contested the division twice on a PNP ticket, losing both times. He has also lost the parliamentary election for South Trelawny twice on a PNP ticket.

In the last general election in 2020, he lost by 4-,084 votes to the woman he’ll be challenging in the November 22 by-election, Marissa Dalrymple Philibert of the JLP.

But despite being well beaten by the former House Speaker before, Gillings says he’s undeterred.

The PNP has decided not to field its caretaker in South Trelwany, Paul Patmore as a candidate in the upcoming by-election.

Gillings says he remains a committed member of the PNP and sees nothing wrong with trying to win the seat as an independent candidate.

Dalrymple-Philibert is seeking re-election for a fifth time in the seat.

She resigned last year as Speaker of the House and member of parliament. Her resignation came after the Integrity Commission ruled that she be charged for failing to declare ownership of a Mercedes Benz.

Dalrymple-Philibert had similarly disclosed that her return to political representation follows an overwhelming call from constituents.

But according to Gillings, Dalrymple-Philibert doesn’t have widespread support in South Trelawny.