'I would be MP, not Zekes,' says Victor Cummings

Cummings

Zeeks

VICTOR CUMMINGS, the People's National Party's candidate for Central Kingston, says his brother, Matthew's Lane don, Donald 'Zekes' Phipps, will have no influence on his leadership if he is elected Member of Parliament.

In an interview with The Gleaner, he spoke candidly of his relationship with 'Zekes', the man who made news headlines in late September 1998 when his supporters rioted in sections of downtown Kingston after the police detained him on charges of attempted murder and wounding with intent. He was subsequently freed of all charges.

Mr. Cummings, the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation Councillor for the Allman Town Division, acknowledged that 'Zekes' has "a lot of influence" in the wider downtown area. But, he said: "As the MP (if elected) for Central Kingston, I will run Central Kingston, not my brother."

The aspiring politician has earlier this year had to intervene in a conflict between men from Tel Aviv, a PNP stronghold in Central Kingston, and Matthews Lane, the PNP stronghold in West Kingston, where 'Zekes' has his base. He said that that conflict has been mostly resolved.

"Once I went in and met with the community I told them my brother is my brother and it's not him who wants to run to become MP, it's me."

He added: "We have a very good relationship. After all, we're brothers and we used to sleep in the same bed together. When you have a connection between the mother it's a lot closer and we're not just brothers, we're friends."