AN independent candidate yesterday joined the race for the St Mary Western seat, considered as one of the marginal seats going into the February 25 General Election.

The candidate, Paul Ward, a former lecturer of the University of Technology, was born in Britain but has been living in Jamaica since 1970.

“I would like to give people another choice,” Ward said. He added that he does not agree with some policies of the major political parties and would like to bring some of his ideas forward, especially regarding the national debt.

He said persons in the constituency have expressed disatisfaction with candidates for the major parties and so he wants to give the people another choice.

Ward, who arrived at the nomination centre a few minutes after 1:00 pm did not have any of his supporters with him. However, he presented a list with the signatures of registered voters in the constituency and was nominated at the Gayle Court House.

He will go up against the Jamaica Labour Party’s Robert Montague and the People’s National Party’s Joylan Silvera, the incumbent candidate.

— Renae Dixon