The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

CENTRAL and South Eleuthera MP Damian Gomez said yesterday he might not run as a candidate for his constituency in the next general election.

Discussions, he said, are continuing to have him possibly run in another area to increase the party’s chances of remaining in power.

In a WhatsApp messenger group for his constituency, he said recently: “My fellow party members of the greatest PLP branch, I am unlikely to be your candidate in the next general election. Over the last four months. I have been in discussions about us and our party.

“Our leadership needs us to win. Every decision is made with that goal in mind. I am a PLP and everything I do is for our party’s benefit. I support our party’s leadership. I support my successor whoever that may be determined and I invite each of you to do the same. I love you all and I have been honoured and privileged to be your standard bearer. I shall soon have meetings to plot the way forward.”

In an interview with The Tribune yesterday, Mr Gomez said: “I was asked to consider not running and to consider another seat. These things happen from time to time depending on the political strategies they are intending. I’m not retiring. All I am doing is letting the branch know that something is afoot.”

If Central and South Eleuthera constituents want him to remain their representative, that could cause him to be chosen as the nominee for the constituency, he said, adding that a branch meeting will be held soon to discuss the matter.

In 2012, Mr Gomez won a narrow victory in his constituency over the Free National Movement’s (FNM) candidate Howard Johnson.

Mr Gomez got 1,392 votes, or 50 per cent of the vote, while Mr Johnson got 1,326, or 28 per cent of the vote. The Democratic National Alliance’s (DNA) candidate William Hunt got 57 votes.

Mr Gomez did not elaborate yesterday on what constituencies are being considered for him to possibly run in.