By Kendea Jones
Senator Allyson Maynard-Gibson has announced the she does not intend to run in the upcoming 2012 elections. (Journal file photo)
Leader of Opposition in the Senate, Allyson Maynard-Gibson revealed yesterday that she would not be seeking a nomination for the next General Elections.
While appearing on the Love 97FM/ JCN programme "Jones and Company" the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) senator said she would like to explore helping the community outside of politics.
"There are many options open to me. I believe that when you give service you have to have the desire to serve, feel called to serve and have an incredible fire in your belly. People can feel you are real and that you mean what you are talking about. People felt that in Pinewood and I believe that is why we were able to make such extraordinary strides," she said.
"I have to say that I don’t feel the same kind of fire in my belly. In the past, I have been praying, considering and consulting for my options. I am not going to accept PLP Leader Perry Christie’s offer and run again in the Pinewood constituency. I declined the offer. I would rather mentor young people, future young leaders and politicians."
Mrs. Maynard-Gibson, who is daughter of Sir Clement Maynard and Lady Zoe Gibson, entered front-line politics in 2002.
She became the Member of Parliament for the Pinewood Constituency at that time, but lost the seat in the 2007 General Elections.
Mrs. Maynard-Gibson challenged the outcome of the election in court, but lost.
Instead, Free National Movement (FNM) MP Byran Woodside was declared the duly elected Member of Parliament for Pinewood.
However, the PLP senator noted that this was not the reason for her decision to depart from frontline politics.
"I was disappointed obviously that I lost. But I think history will show that the Pinewood Election Court case was an extremely important one in terms of changing election procedures," she said.
"There was cheating going on and people were purchasing birth certificates and voter’s cards. It was very important for me to go through that process, bring the evidence to court and let the court talk about it and the fact that those kinds of things undermine democracy."
The senator said that she heard rumours being tossed about that she was getting ready to join the Free National Movement (FNM). She adamantly denied this.
"That would never happen. I am a PLP. I support the PLP and the leadership of Perry Gladstone Christie. I am going to do all that I can, while I can to not only bring the Pinewood seat into the PLP threshold but to make sure that the PLP wins that next election," she said.
Mrs. Maynard-Gibson said she feels confident that the PLP would win the next General Election.
"The electorate is waiting for the PLP to get back to the agenda so that people could have jobs. We want to get back to the days when the misery index was not what it is. When we know our lights will not cut out and people are not talking about increasing the rates for electricity or dissolving the hotel corporation on the historical fact that that corporation was brought about to save jobs in a bad economy. The record shows that the PLP did change the nation," she said.
Political observers are expressing surprise on the Mrs. Maynard-Gibson’s decision. She is not the only PLP politician to leave front line politics.
Member of Parliament for St. Cecelia Cynthia "Mother" Pratt has also retired from politics.
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