By Lynford Simpson, Staff ReporterTHE JUST concluded parliamentary elections which saw the ruling People's National party (PNP) winning 35 seats to the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party's 25, based on the preliminary count, has created three vacancies in the Senate.
Two vacancies were created on the Opposition side after James Robertson de-feated the PNP's Anthony Hylton to win the St. Thomas Western seat, and with Ruddy Spencer winning in Clarendon South East. He prevailed over the PNP's Basil Burrell.
For the PNP, Aloun Assamba will move to the Lower House after she won in St. Ann South East. She turned back Peter Fakhourie of the JLP.
But there could be even more places up for grabs in Parlia-ment's Upper House as Burchell Whiteman, Leader of Government Business in the Senate in the last Parliament has indicated that he will be stepping down. Some analysts are of the view however that with the PNP winning by a greatly reduced majority, the leadership of the party may be forced to ask the incumbent Minister of Education to delay his departure.
Maxine Henry-Wilson, PNP General Secretary said yesterday that two additional vacancies could arise as both Alfred Rattray and Fred Hamaty, Govern-ment Senators last time around, are not in the best of health. There is no indication yet as to who would fill those positions although Basil Waite, President of the PNP's Youth Arm (PNPYO) has been touted, so too Mr. Hylton, a Mining and Energy Minister in the last Government. Having lost his seat, and with obvious talent, the Prime Minister may be keen to bring him back through the Senate.
For the JLP, both Bruce Golding whose recent return to the party is said to be partly responsible for its improved showing at the polls (it picked up 13 seats while dropping one) and Dr. David Panton, are seen as the front runners for Senate appointments.
In fact, Opposition Leader Edward Seaga told a Gleaner's Editors' Forum last month that he would not hesitate to appointment Mr. Golding an Independent Senator if the JLP had won the election.
Although suffering another defeat, it is widely expected that Mr. Golding will still be made Senator to shore up the leadership of the party.
Apart from being rewarded for the outstanding work he did for the party with Generation 2000, the group of young professionals affiliated with the JLP, a Senate appointment is seen by many as invaluable experience for Dr. Panton who is seen by many as a future leader of the JLP.
