In a surprising move, Colin Bell has announced his withdrawal as the People’s National Party (PNP) caretaker for Portland Eastern. The announcement was made via a video posted on the social media platform YouTube, where Bell expressed frustration over the lack of support from some councillors within the constituency.
Bell’s decision comes after being selected by the PNP last year to run against the incumbent Portland Eastern Member of Parliament, Ann-Marie Vaz of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), in the upcoming general election.
“I am not going into politics to lose,” Bell asserted in his statement. “If there are forces against me within my space, sometimes you have to give people what they want.”
Despite his withdrawal, Bell urged his supporters to back the new candidate that the PNP will nominate for the Portland Eastern seat. His departure highlights ongoing internal challenges within the PNP, particularly in securing unified support for candidates contesting significant parliamentary seats.
The PNP will now need to act swiftly to appoint a new candidate who can rally support and pose a strong challenge to Ann-Marie Vaz in the next general election. With Bell stepping down, the race for Portland Eastern becomes even more intriguing as observers and constituents await the PNP’s next move.
