PLP: Stanley Lowe Replaced By Zane DeSilva
[Updated] Becoming the third incumbent MP to be replaced in 24 hours, veteran MP Stanley Lowe [pictured] will not stand again in his Southampton constituency, with the branch selecting Zane DeSilva to be their candidate in the next general election.
Mr DeSilva, who presently serves as Health Minister, beat out former National Security Minister Lt. Col. David Burch for the Constituency #29 Southampton East seat. Mr DeSilva received 44 votes, to Colonel Burch’s 22.
A PLP spokesperson said that the results were “Minister Zane Desilva over Lt Col David Burch,” indicating that Mr Lowe did not put forth his name for the branch.
Two selections took place this evening [Sept.21], with Randy Horton [36 votes] retaining his seat despite a challenge by lawyer Marc Daniels [27 votes] in Constituency #32 Southampton West.
Minister DeSilva will move to a new constituency, having first been elected to Parliament in Southampton East Central [#30] in 2007 in a tight race, that saw Mr DeSilva winning by 48 votes [569-521] over the UBP’s David Dodwell.
Constituency #29 Southampton East held their candidate selection meeting at 7:00pm this evening [Sept.21] at the New Apostle Church in Southampton.
While Mr Lowe did not appear to be present at the meeting, both Colonel Burch and Minister DeSilva were on hand at the beginning of the evening, greeting branch members and shaking hands .
One of the most long standing politicians, Mr. Lowe has been the Progressive Labour Party representative for Southampton East continuously since 1968, and was elected Speaker of the House of Assembly following the general election in November 1998. Mr Lowe won 558 – 263 against the UBP’s Douglas Decouto in the last general election.
The results of the other candidate selection tonight saw incumbent Randy Horton retain his seat despite a challenge by lawyer Marc Daniels, both gentlemen are pictured below. Constituency #32 Southampton West also held their candidate selection meeting this evening [Sept.21], taking place at 7:30pm at the Dalton E. Tucker Primary School in Southampton. In 2007 Randy Horton beat the UBP’s Charlie Swan 629 – 366.
Last night the PLP selected two candidates, with both constituencies seeing the sitting MP ousted in favour of a challenger. Rolfe Commissiong was selected over incumbent Ashfield Devent in Pembroke South East, and in Hamilton South Diallo Rabain was selected over Darius Tucker – who won his seat under the UBP.
Update: Video of branch members, Minister DeSilva and Colonel Burch leaving:
Its like watching your mother in-law back over a cliff in your new car.
It’s like watching two dung beetles fight over a turd.
Zane…next is DREB. The PLP offer no change. No hope. Same o’l crap.
Good work Zane now Lt. Col. David Burch can continue being a clown. I must give that to him the guy is funny.
When is the circus coming anyway?
Maybe I’ll ask Lavern.
Yes I’m a PLP supporter and always will be one………. but I don’t support a clown or a Lavern.
The the OBA party = fail
so i guess the plp is racist in replacing mr lowe with a white bermudian
Mr Lowe didn’t stand…. It was between Zane & The Burch… and given that choice…
It seems like the people are speaking.
Ahh… Kernal Burch , are you still interested in that “we do chicken right ” franchise ? Zane learned that below the belt move from your best friend Dr. Horrible . You were asleep in class . No , no , that night you were busy smuggling people .
Alls well that ends well Mr. Lowe , thank you for your many years of service and I wish you well for the future .
Wtf… That boy Zane beat my Mr.Burch ,lose PLP Lose !drop the writ,please please get rid of you clowns!!
…(un)Holy crap!
The party’s being ripped apart by a PLP that neither rewards nor respects sacrifice. The former Speaker Stanley Lowe was forced out by those who are ignorant of their history. Lowe was disqualified from defending his seat against Burch and DeSilva challenges because “he hadn’t paid Party dues”; information that those who work at Alaska Hall would be privy to.
Dues paying. It’s become an often used technicality designed to thwart those outside of the Premier’s circle of influence. Few know or care that Mr. Lowe should be in CREDIT for a lifetime of honorable service, having lost his job while attending to the needs of the PLP during times of struggle for survival. It would appear that we owe Mr. Lowe a debt of gratitude but that’s NOT how this PLP works.
The candidate’s selection process, installed by Ewart Brown, is the sham vehicle that’s reeking havoc within. Premier Cox should have banished it. There is no shortage of insincere candidates of highly questionable character who have mastered the art of getting elected at the constituency level. Commissiong ignited a firestorm and inflamed many who expressed that something was terribly wrong with the process. “Pastor” Bean refused to resubmit to this year’s candidate selection process and Premier Cox did not force him.
The public still believes that Mark Bean was elected in Sandys. What they don’t know is that the ‘win’ took place at a secret meeting of just 9 constituents during a challenge to then Minister Randy Horton who was off the island at the time! The entire process is a fraud and our leader knows it.
The smoke and mirrors committee initiative was devised to give the perception of participation by Ewart Brown, who then slipped behind the scenes to direct who to install and who to throw away. In odd cases, secret elections known only to supporters of a given candidate were invited to vote.
The media could always be counted upon NOT to do investigative reporting or film how many attended these ‘elections’ as they did during the DeVent challenge. They simply announced the ‘winner’. The public perception, shaped by media reports of the win, serve to create the illusion that democracy is at work in the PLP. This is how it works! Once an MP, next stop’s the Cabinet table, even Deputy. Scary, huh?
I wonder how much of all of that is true!?!?!
Rather interesting comments there “Knows Better” hmmmmm. I wonder……..
I will take the PLP seriously if they made Zane DeSilva Premier.
From Bernews article http://bernews.com/2011/04/colonel-burch-willing-to-stand-as-candidate/
When asked what his plans are for the future he said, “I want to run in 29, so I am concentrating on that. I will work my district, if the branch selects me, then I will be a candidate, if they don’t, then I will work for the for the person they do select. That’s how it happens.”
If the Kernal is a man of his word, he will be taking up a position under Zane Desilva, no?
Zane Desilva does not want Col. Burch under his feet with his glamourous theatrics. Maybe Burch could spend his days seeking a clemency for his Uighurs. He has pi**ed off the U.K. Government so he can’t go there, maybe he could visit China with Ewart and work out a deal, both of them have a good stash$$$$$$
Ha Ha, is this the “back to the plantation” that they were scaremongering last time!!!!!! Ooops it has happened to himself LOL
Ceola Wilson asked Col.Burch upon leaving his Branch and the people that voted for him: “Col Burch, would you like to say anything” his reply was: ” of course not” and he rode off into the night. Sorry! people of Southampton, but it’s self first and you last.