By Roy Sanford, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
EDMUND BARTLETT, incumbent Deputy leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) for Area Four, says he is counting on his performance and the support of the JLP hierarchy to defeat his rival Dr. Horace Chang for leadership in the Area.
Mr. Bartlett and Dr. Chang were nominated for the position of deputy leader when delegates and supporters from Area Four met on Sunday in Sav-la-mar, Westmoreland.
LEADERS
"All the caretakers and members of parliament, with minor exceptions, are solidly behind my candidacy, there is no question about it," Mr. Bartlett said. "I was nominated by constituencies and seconded by constituencies so we are very strong."He said his nomination is a statement that his service was still required in the party and he has the performance to back it up.
"We have worked so far over the years to take this region from zero
position," Mr. Bartlett stated. "When I came here in 1995 we had lost all our caretakers in this region, including the candidate who is challenging me now. I brought them all back in and today we boast a position in Area Four of having six members of parliament, six mayors and 35 councillors. I think that is a performance on which we can build for the future."
Mr. Bartlett also said the JLP had been suffering from a "drought in leadership" in Area Four but he intends to build confidence in the electorate and build dynamic leadership as part of his strategy to win.
"We now have the local government structure in our hands and it is the responsibility of us to give new and dynamic leadership in that critical area," he said.
"The JLP had lean times, but the time has finally come and we have swept the country in the local government elections and we have given confidence to our workers and our supporters and that confidence now we must harness to bring us to victory at the next general elections whenever they are called."
THE PATH
Mr. Bartlett, a business executive, is the Member of Parliament for the East Central St. James constituency. The JLP's deputy leader was MP for Eastern St. Andrew from 1980 to 1993, when he lost the seat to the People's National Party's Colin Campbell who went on to retain the seat in 1997. Mr. Bartlett challenged Violet Neilson for the East Central St. James seat in 1997 but was unsuccessful in his bid.After Mrs. Neilson decided not to contest the constituency during the last General Election because of ill health, Mr. Bartlett challenged the PNP's Donald Colomathi and won.
The JLP spokesman on tourism is among the second-string leaders of the party who is seen as standing in line to assume leadership when opposition leader Edward Seaga departs.
