Dalso Will not be Left Out

Details

Politics

Thursday, 28 February 2013 02:30

By caribarena news

Antigua St. John's - Kelton Dalso has stated outright his refusal to be overshadowed or sidelined in the race for elected office on the Antigua Labour Party ticket in the St Georges Constituency.

Dalso, who made his presence known at a “Freeland-centered” townhall meeting in the New Winthorpes Primary School on Monday, accused ALP General Secretary Mary-Clare Hurst of being discerning in candidate selection, rather than transparent, as democracy dictates.

Hurst made it clear on Monday that as far as she was concerned, there were only two candidates to choose from in the constituency, and neither was Dalso.

She said only incumbent Dean Jonas and prospective Michael Freeland have so far been confirmed.

Dalso has officially applied to the ALP Constituency Branch to be considered as a candidate for the upcoming polls. This request was supposedly sent via email, and carbon copied to Hurst. But according to the general secretary, she would not accept a carbon copy. She said based on her understanding of the message, she was simply given a heads up.

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The political hopeful called Hurst out on that point, however, and said he had proof that Dean Jonas took a similar approach when he signaled his interest to run for the seat several years ago.

Addressing constituency members and ALP executives, Dalso said that if his request could not be acknowledged in the manner in which it was sent, “then Dean’s selection must be null and void first and foremost.”

“There is the notion going around that Dalso is not running,” he said, “and the general secretary saying she cannot act upon my letter. I only hope that my name would not appear in the poll.”

He added, “I told Michael… that I was happy when he joined with me to declare his hand. Because the point is we are fighting a losing battle in St Georges with Dean Jonas. I told him that I would be supporting him (Freeland) if the due process, according to our constitution, had taken place… And he confirmed that if the process does take place and I emerge the victor, that he would support me also.”

General Secretary Hurst however denied that she had accepted a carbon copy from Jonas, and said her position where Dalso was concerned was simply her adhering to constitutional guidelines.

“Procedurally, I cannot respond to a CC,” she said. “It is not addressed to me. It is just an FYI – for my information. With regards to Dean Jonas and his candidacy, what I remember is that it was raised at the executive. There were three persons, I believe at the time… and all three were accepted by the executive, determined suitable, and sent back to the constituency branch to organise a primary which myself and the supervisor of election conducted.”

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