Norman Horne: I have the support and the numbers

Published in the Jamaica Gleaner: Thursday | August 30, 2007

Norman Horne, who is representing the PNP in South East St. Elizabeth, changed his political coat when he resigned as a member of the PNP prior to the 2002 general elections and switched allegiance to the JLP in a bid to enter Parliament on the party's ticket. He, however, lost the contest to the PNP's John Junor in Central Manchester, receiving 7,209 votes to Mr. Junor's 8,331.

He was later appointed to the Senate under the leadership of Edward Seaga to replace Desmond McKenzie who was appointed Mayor of Kingston.

The son of the former PNP Deputy Mayor of Black River, manufacturer and distributor of building materials, resigned from the JLP in 2005 when Pearnel Charles withdrew from the leadership race to replace Mr. Seaga, leaving the contest open only to Bruce Golding, the party's chairman at the time.

Horne, who was a member of Charles' campaign team at the time, cited the incessant incidents of discord in the party as the reason for his resignation. Horne, however, remained as an Independent Senator until he was pressured to resign in 2006 by the JLP.

Centre of controversy

On returning to the PNP fold, Horne was once again a centre of controversy as he replaced the then Member of Parliament for the constituency, Lenworth Blake. The candidacy of Horne to represent the seat caused a rift with four selected local government candidates for the PNP in South East St. Elizabeth resigning.

But Horne is unfazed by the controversy and insists that he can take home the seat for the PNP.

"I am very very confident," he said. "I have the support and the numbers," he told The Gleaner.

He is confident that his switching of allegiance will not affect his chances of winning and is predicting to win the seat by a margin of 1,400 to 2,100 votes.

"Coming back home, I have been welcomed by the People's National Party with open arms and there are a number of JLP supporters who believe that I am the best man for the job," he told The Gleaner.

The seat was won four consecutive times by the PNP since 1989 when Derrick Rochester wrestled the seat away from the JLP's Jeremy Palmer. Mr. Rochester held the seat for three consecutive terms until Lenworth Blake's victory in 2002.