Popular ex-senior cop Steve McGregor has been named as the People’s National Party’s candidate to contest the Central Kingston seat in the pending general election.

McGregor replaces Lawrence Rowe who fell out with the PNP’s leadership. It’s reported that Rowe fell out of favour with senior PNP members of the constituency who lost confidence in him. Following a probe by PNP to brass into the situation (which also included a meeting with Rowe), the embattled politician was notified by letter dated January 4 that he was being removed as the candidate for the constituency.

In the letter signed by PNP president Mark Golding, Rowe was told that the party wasn’t confident that he could unite PNP supporters within the constituency. Golding also told Rowe that he was expected to support McGregor if he intended to build political capital.

Rowe had threatened to leave the party if he was not the candidate, a position that did not sit well with PNP leadership.

The PNP is set to present McGregor supporters in the Kingston Central Constituency on Wednesday, January 13. The meeting is set for 6 pm at the constituency office on North Avenue.

Meanwhile, McGregor has circulated an introductory letter within the constituency.

“Dear Resident, I am Steve McGregor, retired Senior Superintendent of Police who gave 41 years of service to my country and aspiring to be your next member of parliament. I was born in Moore Town, Portland, came to Kingston at the age of 6, lived in the Dunkirk area where I attended basic school for 2 years, moved to Cambridge Street where I lived for 13 years and attended Franklyn Town Primary for 6 of those years,” the letter noted.

The letter added: “I also attended the best high school in Jamaica, Kingston College (KC). After graduating from KC, I joined the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). As someone who was raised in the Central Kingston Constituency, attended Primary and High Schools there, played football and ran through the same gullies with other young boys in this Constituency; I understand your needs and I am the best person to represent you in parliament.”

McGregor recalled his policing years in the area and noted that he would be a representative for all within the constituency. He also promised a “stable foundation for sustainable growth and development within the constituency.

The letter continued:

“During my commanding officer years for the Kingston Central Division, I policed with the consent of the people, making the citizens the centrepiece of all the policing strategies used to manage crime and violence in the communities. In fact, I initiated an anti-crime plan which saw a 65% reduction in murders. The then Commissioner of Police, Mr Owen Ellington lauded my work in Kingston Central and said, ‘Supt Steve McGregor and his team in Kingston Central were able to hold murders to 18 for the year which is an outstanding achievement given the history of this division.’

“I will be a representative for all the communities in Central Kingston: Spoilers, Top Road, Southside, Allman Town, Rae Town, Telaviv, even Gold Street, Fleet Street and Tower Street to name a few. I will crank up a ‘Love Train’ rolling through the communities to spread love, to inspire, to empower and to ultimately create safe communities; so that you, your children and the rest of your family can be safe.

“When your communities are safe, they become more attractive to investors, improve the quality of life for residents, offer a stable foundation for sustainable growth and development, ultimately reducing the fear of crime which is very critical in our country today. ‘Believe in Steve’ and get onboard our ‘Love Train’. I am looking forward to serving you.”