Garwin Davis and Omar Anderson, Gleaner Writers
IN A clear 'act of defiance,' key members of the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) - against the wishes of leader Edward Seaga - claim that they will be going ahead with a meeting of the party's Central Executive in Montego Bay today.
The meeting, to be held at the Chatwick Gardens Hotel, will take place despite a press release sent out by Mr. Seaga on Friday, advising that it had been postponed to Sunday, July 18.
The Sunday Gleaner understands that Deputy Leader James Robertson, Deputy General Secretary Don Creary, delegates from St. Mary and Portland as well as several others are already in Montego Bay preparing for the event, which is expected to be chaired by Bruce Golding, the party's chairman.
Contacted about whether a meeting would be taking place or whether there was any substance to the rumour that he would declare his intention to challenge Mr. Seaga at the next conference for leadership of the JLP, Mr. Golding told The Sunday Gleaner: "I am not answering your question at all."
But party insiders insisted that the meeting will proceed with or without Mr. Seaga.
"The leader has no authority to cancel the meeting," one insider noted. "Mr. Seaga's attempt to postpone the meeting is simply his way of trying to show that he still is in charge. This meeting, without his blessings, will be taking place that you can take to the bank."
Another party insider explained that there was simply no reasonable justification in cancelling the meeting, saying it was an attempt by the party leader to get the Central Executive to meet in Kingston "on his turf."
Mr. Seaga yesterday could not be reached for a comment.
However, in a quickfire response, Opposition Spokesperson on Finance and staunch Seaga ally, Audley Shaw, told The Sunday Gleaner that any effort to go ahead with a meeting especially against the wishes of the party leader would not only be "inappropriate" but is also "an unfortunate act of defiance."
"It was the leader's assessment that there was inadequate notice given to bona fide members of the National Central Executive regarding the meeting," Mr. Shaw pointed out. "Members had also indicated that it was a most inopportune day, considering the number of graduation engagements they are committed to. Against this background, my understanding is that the leader and the general secretary Karl Samuda consulted and the decision was made to postpone the meeting. If this meeting should indeed take place, it symbolises obvious ulterior motives and attempts to create disunity within the party."
Efforts at reaching Mr. Samuda were also unsuccessful.
The controversy-prone JLP in recent weeks has been rocked by a vote-buying scandal, perpetuated by the party's East Portland caretaker Dr. Dennis Minott. He had alleged that some delegates from his constituency were paid money by the James Robertson camp in his successful unseating of Olivia 'Babsy' Grange as deputy leader for Area Council Two at last year's party conference.
BYPASSED MACHINERY
Dr. Minott had also bypassed the party's machinery and invited Bishop Herro Blair, the Political Ombudsman, to investigate the allegations.
However, Bishop Blair said on Wednesday that he was not authorised to investigate alleged political malpractices within a party, leaving Dr. Minott's fate exposed to the 'Reformists' dominated Central Executive the JLP's highest decision making body outside its annual conference.
It was against this background, party sources said, that Mr. Seaga sought earlier last week to have today's Central Executive meeting postponed to July 18.
Asked yesterday whether a decision would have to be made on what if any action should be taken against Dr. Minott, Mr. Shaw said: "This is why we can't be rushing to have a meeting. We have a lot of issues to discuss and we need a full slate of members of the Central Executive...we don't need a splintered group."
