BRUCE GOLDING, chairman of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), is the front-runner among his party colleagues to succeed retiring leader Edward Seaga, according to an opinion survey conducted by pollster Don Anderson on behalf of The Gleaner.
Mr. Golding's clo-sest competitor in the eyes of the public appears to be Pearnel Charles who has openly declared that he is interested in succeeding Seaga, who announced a few weeks ago that he would step down
as leader at the party's next annual conference in November.
Mr. Seaga's decision to step down came amid the latest round of bickering in the JLP between the so-called 'reformists' and 'traditionalists' factions within the party. In his letter of resignation, Seaga criticised Golding for his performance as chairman, saying he had allow indiscipline to fester among the youn-ger officers. He also dismissed Golding as an ineffective leader.
But among persons polled, Mr. Golding is the overwhelming favourite, polling nearly three times 42 per cent the number of persons, 16.3 per cent, who prefer Pearnel Charles for the top position.
Golding has the support across the socio-economic sectors, but particularly so amongst the upper income groups where 49 per cent say they would support him for party leader. Golding returned to the JLP in September 2002 on the eve of the General Election after a failed bid to establish his own political party the National Democratic Movement which he formed in 1995.
Charles, a grassroots leader and former deputy leader of the JLP, who fell out of favour with Seaga during the 'Gang of Five' affair in the early 1990s, has his strongest support amongst older voters in the 55+ age group and amongst rural persons. Over 23 per cent in the 55+ age group would like to see him succeed Seaga, whilst the equivalent number amongst rural persons is 22 per cent.
Both are significantly over the national average of 16 per cent.
SHAW VERSUS CHARLES
The poll show Audley Shaw, a deputy leader of the JLP and heir apparent to Seaga during Golding's absence, gaining the suppor of 12 per cent of all persons interviewed. He is preferred to Charles only in Kingston and amongst voters 18-24.
No other leader within the JLP appears as a serious contender, although 2.9 per cent would like to see Delroy Chuck, 2.6 per cent Mike Henry, 2.4 per cent Derrick Smith and 2.2 per cent 'Babsy' Grange.
The poll was conducted between July 6 and July 20 across the island's 14 parishes and involved interviews with 1,200 persons 18 years and over. It has a margin of plus or minus three per cent.
