National Democratic Movement's (NDM) presidential candidate, Hyacinth Bennett listens to former vice-president Wayne Chen at yesterday's press conference at NDM House, Easton Avenue, Kingston. Also attending was Clinton Wilson who will be challenging Mrs Bennett in Sunday's election. - Junior Dowie THE NATIONAL Democratic Movement (NDM) will spend $1.2 million to stage its sixth annual conference inside the Jamaica Conference Centre on Sunday, Gregory Mair, NDM general secretary said on Monday.
At the end of voting Sunday, the party will have a new leader as its founding president Bruce Golding who left the Jamaica Labour Party to head the movement, has stepped down. His resignation followed a crushing defeat in the March 8 by-election in St. Ann North East where the JLP's Shahine Robinson defeated the NDM's Barbara Clarke, the People's National Party's Carrol Jackson, and independent candidate Astor Black.
According to Mr. Mair, about 1,500 of the party's 2,000 paid-up members are expected to cast their votes for a new president and four vice presidents. There are another 4,000 members who are also eligible to vote.
Educator Hyacinth Bennett is challenging Clarendon businessman Clinton Wilson for president, while Michael Stern, Barbara Clarke, Appllone Reid and Pepon Ruddock are expected to be elected vice presidents.
Monday's press conference did not shed much light on the approach that will be taken by the new president as party chairman, Stafford Haughton refused to allow either candidate to speak. He said they will do so on Sunday at which time they will be available to answer questions from the media.
Voting should start as early as 9:00 a.m. and will continue until 1:00 p.m.
