HANOVER: PRIME MINISTER P.J. Patterson presented 21 People's National Party (PNP) candidates nominated to contest the Hanover and Westmoreland divisional seats in the upcoming Local Government elections, at the Negril Hills Golf Club on Friday night.

In what was his first major address on Nomination Day, Mr Patterson made it clear that he would not be participating in any islandwide motorcade this time around.

"I am not proposing to go around the countryside with a motorcade and a bandwagon, much as though I know PNP people like motorcade," Mr Patterson declared. "One of the reasons I am not doing it is because I have a Government to run and we must continue to manage the affairs of the country, especially at a time like this."

He also expressed the desire to get what he said were the right set of candidates, who were not opportunists.

"We want people who are offering themselves for service; not as masters of the people; not to line their pockets with the people's money; not as contractors. I say, if you want to be a contractor, stay in the contract business! No come inna politics business!

"In the same way, if I wanted to remain a lawyer, I would remain in the legal profession, and believe you me, life would be much easier, with less pressure. Nobody would need to tell no lie pon mi! Nobody would need to cuss mi an abuse mi, because whatever I do, would be nobody's business but my own!" he said.

PNP'S LOSS

The Prime Minister also lamented the PNP's loss to the JLP in the Eastern Hanover constituency in the 2002 General Election and asked for what he said was a "symbol of repentance".

"The only Member of Parliament who voted against the Budget was the MP for Eastern Hanover," Mr Patterson shouted.

"Dat mean say him no want nothing fi him constituency! But in spite of that, I man can't bring myself to penalise the people of East Hanover for the mistake that they made on October 16. But I want you to show me a sign. I want you to show me a symbol of repentance," Mr Patterson said.