The hospitality executive battling for the right to lead the PNP’s machinery in the party’s Region Six, Jerome Darnells, has accused some comrades of working to rig Sunday’s election for the post of Chairman.
A preliminary tally of votes had Darnells polling 108 votes, just one more than his challenger, Senator Allan Bernard.
By about 9:30pm on Sunday, messages began circulating on social media congratulating Darnells for winning a key battle in the expected war for the leadership of the PNP come September 2027.
But an hour later the narrative changed after word emerged that the men had finished the contest in a tie.
More in this report from George Davis.
Jerome Darnells was a happy man early on Sunday night.
On his WhatsApp status, bang on 9PM, he posted a message saying “Election Results: Jerome Darnells 108, Allan Bernard 107.”
At 9:29PM he was still buoyant, again posting on his status, “I went into their hometown and beat them fair and square, so they had no choice but to try and rigged (sic) the elections.”
He added a grinning emoji at the end of that message.
But just over an hour later, when word began spreading on social media that Darnells’ one vote win was due to a counting error and that the race between himself and Senator Bernard had ended in a stalemate, Darnells’ mood turned cryptic.
At 10:57PM he wrote on his status, “I am the punishment of God. If you had not committed great sins, God would not have sent a punishment like me upon you.”
By Monday morning the bombast had drained from Darnells’ posts.
At 6:12AM he posted, “As an attorney, I don’t think you should compromise your ethics in the interest of any political party.”
It’s unclear to whom Darnells was referring.
Nationwide News understands officers of the PNP are to meet this Monday evening to decide whether to seek to include up to 72 spoilt ballots from Sunday’s contest in the official vote tally.
Our sources say that may be the best way to break the so-called tie from Sunday.
Another option, we’ve been told, is to rerun the contest to see who will lead the PNP’s Region-6, which covers the parishes of St. James, Hanover and Westmoreland.
PNP sources say this contest is of huge significance ahead of the expected challenge to Mark Golding’s leadership of the party.
Senator Bernard is a respected comrade in St. James and is seen as a Golding ally.
Darnells is a popular hospitality professional, who reportedly believes the PNP’s strategic direction is best handled by someone other than Mark Golding.
Our sources say the Golding camp is desperate for Senator Bernard to win the contest.
This, as it will strengthen Golding’s bid to see off all challengers to his crown at a PNP leadership contest widely expected to be the main agenda item when comrades gather for their annual conference next September.
