The People’s National Party (PNP) has handed the reins of its OT Fairclough Trust Fund Grants Board to Shameel Brown, a rising figure within the party who has built her reputation on youth engagement and welfare advocacy.
The appointment signals a shift in style as Brown replaces veteran MP Richard Azan, who spent years steering the fund’s activities. Party officials credited Azan with steady leadership but said it is time to “open a new chapter.”
Who is Shameel Brown?
Brown is already a familiar presence in the PNP. She leads the Welfare Commission, serves as a vice president of the PNP Youth Organisation, and is known for balancing activism with academic discipline. She holds a degree in sociology and social policy and is currently pursuing advanced studies in public and development management.
Those close to her say she thrives on mentorship and youth outreach, describing her as someone who “doesn’t just sit in meetings—she pushes to make the numbers mean something on the ground.”
The Role Ahead
The OT Fairclough Trust Fund, which recently issued scholarships to students across the island, is considered one of the PNP’s most practical tools for supporting its base. The board itself is made up of regional and affiliate representatives—from women’s and youth movements to trade union voices—making it a diverse, and often complex, table to chair.
Brown’s challenge will be to energize that structure while ensuring the fund remains relevant to a new generation of Jamaicans looking for educational and developmental support.
Party Mood
While there was gratitude expressed to Azan for his years of service, the tone around Brown’s appointment is clear: this is meant to symbolize momentum. Within party circles, the move is being read less as routine succession and more as a statement about where the PNP wants to head—leaning on fresh energy while still rooted in its traditional support systems.
The PNP’s message was simple: the fund is not just about money—it is about building people. And in that task, they believe Shameel Brown represents the right face for the times.
