Dwayne Vaz wins PNP candidate selection contest

Businessman Dwayne Vaz on Sunday became the candidate of the People's National Party (PNP) to contest the upcoming by-election in the constituency of Central Westmoreland.

In the vote by delegates of the constituency at Mannings High School in Savanna-la-Mar, Mr. Vaz reeceived 329 votes to Michael Erskine's 245.

The Central Westmoreland seat became vacant, upon the death of the incumbent MP, Roger Clarke.

The PNP had initially announced that Mr. Erskine would be the party's candidate in the by-election, without a formal selection process having taken place. That was challenged, however, by Dr. Karl Blythe, a former four-term MP for the constituency. The party then relented and convened Sunday's vote. 

Significantly, after initially having himself nominated for selection, Dr. Blythe withdrew from the race and threw his support behind Mr. Vaz.