Pryce settles in West Central St James - To battle Malahoo Forte in next election

Four months after withdrawing from a race to replace Robert Pickersgill as the People's National Party (PNP) standard-bearer in North West St Catherine, Raymond Pryce has been installed as the party's candidate for West Central St James.

The selection of Pryce means that he will face off with the Jamaica Labour Party's Marlene Malahoo Forte, who won the seat in 2016.

West Central St James is the third constituency that Pryce's political trek has taken him. He served as member of parliament for North East St Elizabeth from 2011 to 2016 before he was removed by the party in the lead-up to the elections.

"The standards that we are going to have to achieve to move this constituency into the winning column is going to be very high in ensuring the success of the Peoples' National Party," Pryce told party supporters at a constituency conference, held at Herbert Morrison Technical High School.

"What I want is an opportunity to put on my water boots, to go and meet the people, to learn and hear from you," he added.

Luther Buchanan, a deputy general secretary of the PNP, has pledged to help Pryce take the seat away from Malahoo Forte, who prevailed by a margin of 1,261 votes over the PNP's Sharon Ffolkes-Abrahams in the last general election.

"I won't be interfering into your business, but after this marriage, and after the honeymoon, I will be knocking on your door as a good neighbour and checking on you as a family," Buchanan said.