Charles, left, and Golding
Earl Moxam, Senior Gleaner Writer
SENATOR NORMAN Horne, recently selected as the JLP's Caretaker for South East St. Elizabeth, readily admits that he will be supporting Pearnel Charles in the November 6 Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) leadership election.
Bruce Golding has so far garnered most of the public statements of support from JLP Members of Parliament and caretakers, with only Mike Henry and Abe Dabdoub from among the MPs coming out in support of Mr. Charles.
But Norman Horne is dismissing claims that Bruce Golding is comfortably ahead in support among delegates.
"There is a difference between the perception and the reality among the delegates. If one were to go with perception you would believe that Mr. Golding is leading, but when you speak with the delegates you have a different feel from them," he said.
MOVE FORWARD AGGRESSIVELY
As for his own participation from that stage onwards, Senator Horne is promising to "move forward aggressively in helping Mr. Charles and the Labour Party realise the desired objective."
But already Mr. Horne is laying out his arguments in favour of Charles versus Golding, claiming that Mr. Charles was a much more effective and popular minister during the 1980s.
"I think the record is very clear that Mr. Charles ran a most effective Ministry during that period (Local Government, then Public Utilities and Transport); in fact I have seen records to the effect that while he had a 57 per cent rating, Mr. Golding had a three per cent rating. If we were to use that as to the level of leadership and the skills that were brought to government, certainly Mr. Charles is ahead by far!"
Dr. Horace Chang sharply dismissed the unflattering comparison, describing it as nonsense. Bruce Golding, as Minister of Construction and Works, he said, ran a very complex ministry with great skill and competence during the JLP administration of the 1980s.
Furthermore, he argued, Mr. Golding "has articulated the most comprehensive and cohesive proposals on reforming governance in this country in recent years."
Dr. Chang is not prepared to share the blame for the deteriorating quality of the leadership campaign. "We haven't changed our campaign style. What is happening from the other side is unfortunate and is hurting the party but it will not hurt our programme," he asserted.
And, in an ominous tone, Dr. Chang, deputy leader and chairman of the JLP's Region Four, is warning that "those who are doing this are intent on mashing up the Labour Party, and it will have to be dealt with decisively. There has to be some commitment to the party. After the election the entire leadership of the party will have to make decisions on how to handle the situation."
Looking to a possible scenario in which his favoured candidate loses the leadership election, Senator Horne is dismissive of any thought that his own position in the party may be in jeopardy. Irrespective of the outcome, he said, he expected the party to be united that all members of the Labour Party will unite around the new leader and then continue the mandate of seeking state power.
Mr. Horne, who only joined the Labour Party ahead of the 2002 General Election, having grown up in a strong PNP family (his father, Donald Horne, a former Deputy Mayor of Black River for the PNP) quickly dismissed suggestions that he might seek to return to that party, in the event of a change in fortunes in the JLP.
"There is absolutely no chance of that; none whatsoever!" he asserted.
He raised the possibility however that he might take time off from mainstream politics for doctoral studies.
