Fifteen down, One more to go and by that I mean, fifteen candidates and caretakers named for the United Progressive Party, with one more constituency outstanding. It is outstanding because more than one individual has come forward to represent the country’s largest electorate, St George, a constituency with over five thousand, one hundred voters during the last election cycle.
Among the Individuals vying to replace the outgoing MP, Algernon “Serpent” Watt, is President of the Antigua Barbuda Workers Union, Mr Kem Riley, newly minted Lawyer, Kelton Dalso and Jermaine Kentish, (AKA Buffy). While all three men have some very good intentions, I must be totally honest when I say that two of them have absolutely no chance whatsoever of taking down the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party’s Michael Freeland and I speak from the heart with total freedom, soundness of mind and seriousness. One has absolutely no clue, has no place in the race, has no name recognition outside of his own village while the other is like a hurdler, jumping from one house to the other, jumping here, jumping there, jumping wherever the wind blows.
And then there is the MAN with the handle, the One who’s got the Title, the Legend himself, a guy who is not only well known across the country, across the constituency but he is an individual who transcends politics, an individual who lights up people’s lives, brighten their days, and a guy who is full of the three Ls, Life, Love and Laughter. I am talking about the one and only Jermaine Kentish, aka Buffy, aka Zidane, aka R.W. Schamback, and the one I like to call him from our days at Clare Hall Secondary School, L’Animal.
I remember our days at CHSS from first form to fourth form, this little black, scrawny guy was always laughing, smiling, giving jokes, entertaining with his acting skills but most of all it was his Michael Jackson impression that still resonates with me up to this day some 36 years later. Now let me be clear about one thing, as I write these words about my childhood friend and classmate, I myself am a member of the ABLP, my family has deep, deep, deep roots in Labour but anytime at all, Kentish wins his January 19th primary and go on to be his party’s nominee, I will be left with no other choice but to crarp my X in the box for Jermaine Kentish, the future MP of St George.
What amazes me about him is that at 50 years old, he still looks like the wild teenager who I was too afraid to tell that I have a crush on and wanted him to be my boyfriend (LOL). But here’s the kicker, Kentish has super deep roots in the entire constituency, he is from New Winthorpes, was raised in Barnes Hill by Papa Charlie, ninety percent of his family are from Pigotts (His father’s birthplace) plus he has family members and hundreds of friends in Potters.
But let’s go back to Pigotts where I think his roots are deepest. He is the grandson of the late Samuel Kentish and if you do not know who Samuel Kentish is, then let me tell you, that the senior Kentish was a sharecropper, farmer, community activist but most of all, he was a staunch defender of the Workers Union and Workers rights as one of the early members and supporters of the Progressive Labour Movement (PLM).
A Kentish candidacy spells doom for the ABLP’s chances in St George, and as a matter of fact, Kentish is the only candidate I have witnessed since the days of Sir Adolphus that would generate a buzz and excitement among the voters that he could possibly surpass the 3000 vote threshold when all the ballots are counted. Why? Because people just Lub (love) buffy and this labourite is looking forward to a refreshing personality in St George and I believe that just as he fought UPP and ABLP (Ernamae and Melford) at ABS, he will do the very same for the people of St George. See you at Potters Primary School on Monday January 19th, 7pm sharp. Go Buffy.
Signed by Yours Truly
Labour Voter since 1994
