By Lynford Simpson, Staff ReporterOF THE 23 Members of Parliament classified as 'new' to the House of Representatives, only 14 are totally without experience in either the upper or lower chamber. The other nine are either returning, having lost their seats in previous administrations, or have served in the Senate.
When the new-look Parliament convenes, the majority of the 23 'new' faces, 14, will sit on the Opposition benches of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), while the other nine will be on the side of the governing People's National Party (PNP).
Despite nearly a quarter of the members to constitute the House having no previous parliamentary experience, the leadership of the two major parties are promising a vibrant Parliament.
"I think you can expect good representation - all of them are very solid, grassroots persons who have lived in the constituencies that they represent," said Maxine Henry-Wilson, PNP general secretary. She will be going to the House of Representatives for the first time, having previously served in the Senate.
Noting that some of the first-time MPs were born in the constituencies in which they live, Mrs. Henry-Wilson said: "First of all, I think you can expect very good local representation. They also bring freshness at the national level because of their solid view of where the nation needs to go. The majority have been leaders in their own right."
For his part, Edmund Bartlett, JLP deputy leader and the party's spokesman on tourism, said: "It's a wonderful mix, a very rich mix of experienced parliamentarians/politicians and energetic bright young minds." He will be returning to Gordon House after a nine-year absence.
Four of the Opposition members including Mr. Bartlett, have either served as MP or Minister of Government in past JLP administrations but have been out of the House for extended periods. Mr. Bartlett previously served as Minister of Youth and Community Development in the 1980s. He subsequently served two terms in the Senate between 1989 and 1997.
The others who are making a comeback for the JLP are:
Dr. Ken Baugh, the party's general secretary, who was Minister of Health during the 1980s. He returns after nearly 14 years without a seat.
Pearnel Charles served as Public Utilities Minister in the 1980s.
The other returnee is Dr. Horace Chang who was a Hanover MP.
Two other JLP MPs have had parliamentary experience as Senators in the Upper House:
James Robertson, who defeated the PNP's Anthony Hylton for the St. Thomas Western seat;
and Ruddy Spencer, who won in Clarendon South East.
Completing the list of JLP first-timers are: Devon McDaniel, Trelawny South; Barrington Gray, Hanover East; Clive Mullings, St. James West Central; J.E. Smith, St. Ann South West; Dr. St. Aubyn Bartlett, St. Andrew Eastern; Joseph Hibbert, St. Andrew East Rural; Andrew Gallimore, St. Andrew West Rural; and E. Warmington, St. Catherine South West.
Only two of the PNP MPs classified as 'new' have had previous parliamentary experience. They are Aloun Assamba, who won the St. Ann South East constituency; and Maxine Henry-Wilson, who came out on top in St. Andrew South East. Both served as Senators in the previous Parliament. Mrs. Henry-Wilson was Minister of Information in the last PNP Government while Mrs. Assamba served as a State Minister.
The others are: Len Blake who has served at the Local Government level. He won the St. Elizabeth South Eastern seat; Dr. Morais Guy, St. Mary Central; Dr. Neil McGill, St. Mary Western; Robert Hanson, Hanover Western; Dr. Patrick Harris, Trelawny North; Richard Azan, Clarendon North West; and Victor Cummings, Kingston Central.
With 10 Government MPs stepping down ahead of last Wednesday's election, the PNP fielded 23 new candidates. The JLP fielded more than 30 new candidates.
