St Mary nominate siblings

RICHARD CREARY is happy at being on the front line. There is no fear, although his running for the Parish Council division of Richmond, St. Mary, his first venture into active politics.

The reason, he says, is that politics has been a constant force in his life, just as are the Kiwanis Club of St. Mary and the St. Mary Chamber of Commerce.

The 33-year-old businessman and his family have had a long association with the Kiwanis, the Chamber and the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).

His father, the late Luneville Creary's history with the JLP dates back to the party's formation; his mother, Norma, hosted the JLP's top brass, including JLP Leader, Edward Seaga; his brother, communications consultant, Don Creary, ran for the St. Mary South East seat in the 1997 General Election and is currently the JLP's candidate for the Castleton division in the same parish in the June 19 Local Government elections; and he spent several years helping with other political campaigns.

"I have always been involved in politics, but I didn't know I would end up taking it this far," Mr. Creary says, adding that he accepted the candidacy to give effective parish representation.

"A lot of the people who are representatives in Local Government are not really the type of people who can represent anyone, because the MP or the caretaker just put somebody there who has been a loyal supporter, so they are not really effective representatives. I think I have something, based on my service record, that I can bring to the table," he told The Gleaner by telephone. This was just hours after presenting his papers to the Presiding Officer at the Annotto Bay Court House and paying the $3,000 registration fee for his nomination yesterday.

On his agenda are, seeing to the reopening of the market and a community centre in the division and securing proper telephone, water and road systems for the area.

"Whatever is within my power to do, I will do. Whatever I can do to help them, I will," he pledges.

Like his brother, 36-year-old Don Creary is also campaigning for a Local Government seat for the first time. Defeated by the People's National Party's (PNP), Harry Douglas, in the General Elections in 1997, he is now vying for the Castleton divisional seat.

The elder Creary said he will be putting to good use in his campaign, the following lesson he learned from his father and which he told to The Gleaner in 1999.

"(The) saying that sticks most in my mind is there are two ways to get ahead in life, you can kick ass or you can kiss it; either one you do will make you just as successful but, whichever one you choose, be consistent, don't kiss it today and kick it tomorrow."

Mr. Creary says he will continue working in the best interest of communities.

"A lot of people in politics put out an effort to get elected and, after being elected, they disappear. The people of South East St. Mary can tell you that, even after I withdrew from politics, I did not withdraw from the people," he said. "I am seeking election and once I get it, people will get representation with the same tenacity, the same fire, the same veracity."

He plans to reduce Castleton's high unemployment rate via ventures with private sector interests and the communities, to boost tourist sites such as Castleton Gardens, to improve and formalise the harvesting and selling of the lychee fruit, native to the area, and to look at how spring water businesses can be developed using several of the 28 springs in the parish. He also plans to look at improving the quality of education and water in the parish.