Writing was on the wall
THERE were mixed views in the St Ann South Eastern constituency following Member of Parliament Lisa Hanna’s bombshell announcement that she will be stepping away from representational politics.
Hanna, who has been the representative for St Ann South Eastern since 2007, made the announcement on Tuesday in a release, stating that she will be not be offering herself as a candidate for the People’s National Party (PNP) in the next general election.
But while some members of the constituency have expressed shock and a sense of sadness, others believe that her decision was fitting, claiming more needs to be done in the constituency.
Lloyd Garrick, former PNP councillor for the Moneague Division, said the news of the Hanna’s leaving was not surprising.
“It is not shocking for me because the writing was on the wall, it was just a matter of when and how it would have been done,” he told the Jamaica Observer.
For sometime there has been disunity among Hanna and members of the PNP’s constituency leadership in her constituency. Some constituents speculated Wednesday that she has had enough of the personal attacks, hence, her decision to end her reign.
Courtney Wallace, a past member of the PNP South Eastern St Ann executive board, said he believes Hanna would have got the signals that they needed a change in the constituency.
“We are not surprised by her move to leave politics because she was not getting any traction within the constituency. In the last election the people in South East St Ann sent her a clear signal and she would have seen that the writing was on the wall and she decided to go. We the people of the constituency want her to go instantly so that someone can come in and begin to do the work of reorganising the place,” he told the Observer.
Meanwhile, Alvin Campbell, a resident of Gibraltar in Moneague, said he was not pleased with Hanna’s service.
“I was looking forward to see her go because she haven’t been doing anything in her division. We have some real bad roads from when, we need somebody who can care for the constituency better than this,” said Campbell.
He added: “We don’t see her walking through and talking to the people to find out what is happening, she only go to special people houses and it’s not fair. She should have resigned with immediate effect.”
Likewise, Maureen Wilson Parris, a resident of Higgin Town, added, “A long time she must go because she nah do nothing fi we.”
Pamela Josephs, a resident of Eights Miles, however, said Hanna has left an indelible mark on the lives of many.
“Lisa is so down to earth, she come here and she listen to we and she do what she can fi we. We glad for your service, Lisa and we know a only good salvation last forever but it is so disappointing to see you leave us, but I can only wish you the best,” she said.
Another supporter of Hanna added: “I’m going to miss her so much, I wish it was a dream; we the people love her you so much. St Ann gonna miss her, I feel really broken.”