Manager of Mount Pure Water Bottling Company, Yolanda McQueen is tipped to be one of the candidates for D’Movement in the next general election.

Well-placed sources told THE NEW TODAY that McQueen has given a commitment to Political Leader of the party, former Foreign Minister Peter David to run for the organisation in the constituency held by current Opposition Leader Emmalin Pierre.

An informed political observer said that the female businesswoman is currently engaged in talks with a number of key persons in the constituency to mount a challenge for the seat.

McQueen has reportedly received the support of Devon Date, the first person being touted by D’Movement as its potential candidate to run for the rural seat.

According to the political observer, the entrance of McQueen and the involvement of Date who is said to be very popular in the Telescope area of the constituency, could pose a serious challenge to Pierre holding onto the seat.

The Opposition Leader managed to win the seat in the 2022 poll by a narrow margin based on the majority of votes she secured in Telescope, described as one of the poorest villages in the constituency.

The source said that Pierre has done very little to assist the people of Telescope over the years as their Member of Parliament and was shown up during the passage of Hurricane Beryl just over a year ago.

He spoke of McQueen rallying to the assistance of residents with cases of drinking water while the Opposition Leader did nothing much to help them in their plight.

The source told THE NEW TODAY that McQueen is expected to make her grand entrance with D’Movement during its official launch to be held shortly.

He noted that McQueen has strong family ties in the lower section of the constituency in places like Crochu, Felix Park and Mamma Cannes and can “eat into the support” base of the Opposition Leader.

McQueen is the sister of Cuthbert McQueen who won the St Andrew South-east seat in the 1999 general election for the NNP.

In the 2022 election, Cuthbert McQueen switched over to Congress and supported the candidacy of David Andrew.

Yolanda McQueen was interviewed by Congress for the seat in the 2022 general election but was overlooked and the assignment was given to the current Minister of Education Senator David Andrew.

The NDC has not indicated whether Sen. Andrew who is under fire in some political quarters as “a weak and ineffective” politician will be retained as its candidate for the national poll.

The Parliamentarian was spotted a few weeks ago engaged in a tour of the Grenville Market along with prospective candidates for NDC, Sports and Mental Health Minister Delma Thomas and Educator Dr. Tessa St Cyr who also failed in her bid in 2022 to win the St Andrew North-east seat from Kate Lewis of the opposition New National Party (NNP).

The Political Observer told THE NEW TODAY that Sen. David has been able to make some inroads in Telescope with a number of projects undertaken as compared to Pierre in her stewardship in government between 2013 and 2022.

He believes that either McQueen or the Congress candidate can win the St Andrew South-east in the next general election as the Opposition Leader has lost a lot of support in the constituency.

“It is only Emmalin Pierre who doesn’t know that she will lose the seat. I can bet any money on that – she will fall,” he said.