Azan

What People's National Party (PNP) insiders had quietly anticipated would be a spirited electoral battle between the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) Michael Stern and Richard Azan is fizzling into a dull no-contest just a month before the court even hears the matter.

As the PNP struggled to close ranks in the aftermath of a crushing defeat at the polls last week, closely followed by acerbic comments attributed to its general secretary, Peter Bunting, information began to circulate over the weekend that Azan planned to surrender the impending electoral battle without a fight.

He told The Gleaner yesterday the floodgates in North West Clarendon had been opened and political gifts of all sizes and shapes were being ushered through and presented to the people of the constituency.

While pouring scorn on the alleged generosity of the JLP, the former parliamentarian argued that he had no answer to what he described as the assortment of gifts being offered to embracing voters in the constituency while his party is flat broke.

"This is worse than pork-barrel politics ... . The people are getting more than pork," Azan quipped. "That is not the way to go ... . I don't like this kind of politics. It is insulting to the people."

PNP has final say

Responding to queries in relation to his next course of action, Azan said his party has the final say, notwithstanding the fact that he has been functioning as caretaker since he was defeated by Stern in the 2007 general election.

"I will tell you this, the decision rests with the party," he asserted.

In the lead-up to the 2002 election, Azan went into North West Clarendon on the PNP ticket a veritable underdog. He ran a strong campaign in what is historically a JLP-dominated seat, creating one of two major upsets for the PNP and, in so doing, sent defeated candidate and political veteran Cliff Stone into retirement.

Azan supported Portia Simpson Miller in the bitterly fought presidential campaign of 2006 and was rewarded with a junior ministerial position in the transport and works ministry.

Within months of his appointment, however, Azan was accused by the JLP of exploiting his ministerial position to secure a second electoral victory.

He, however, lost the seat on the electoral battlefield to Stern but, armed with information that Stern enjoyed dual citizenship, Azan resorted to the legal arena to regain the seat.

gary.spaulding@gleanerjm.com