GRANGE
Barbara Ellington, Senior Gleaner Writer
EMBATTLED JAMAICA Labour Party Member of Parliament, Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, is not worried about her future in the organisation because she has "...the strength to withstand any pressure" that may be put on her.
Echoes of discontent with her performance from elements within her Central St. Catherine constituency last year, may have caused some to think that Ms. Grange would be happy to seize the opportunity to go elsewhere, even to West Kingston, but not so.
She told The Sunday Gleaner that she was approached by both party leader Edward Seaga and delegates in the West Kingston constituency to serve in the premier JLP seat, but asked for time to think about it. After consulting with her St. Catherine constituency delegates, they objected to her leaving them.
"I was a little uneasy because I had never said no to the leader before, so I prayed that Desmond would say yes," she admitted.
Kingston and St. Andrew Mayor Desmond McKenzie (a Seaga protégé) and attorney-at-law Tom Tavares-Finson have applied to the party's executive body to represent the constituency.
Another name coming to the fore is party Chairman Bruce Golding, who badly needs a seat.
THE BEST CHOICES
Ms. Grange nevertheless spoke to why she thinks Mayor Desmond McKenzie and herself would be the best choices to succeed Mr. Seaga.
"I was born on Luke Lane and grew up on Bond Street. Mr. Seaga was our role model and we were always involved in community activities. I went to prep school in the yard where Desmond McKenzie grew up and with Mr. Seaga as a mentor, he encouraged and prepared us all to take up leadership positions in adulthood," Ms. Grange said.
Of the other candidates showing an interest in the constituency, Ms. Grange says she does not think they are interested in representational politics. "The constituency is special, you have to understand it; the people live each other's lives, feel each other's pain and share each other's joy, no matter where they go, it's the same and Mr. Seaga is a part of that bond."
So does any single thing stand out in her mind regarding that special bond between shepherd and flock?
SHARED LOVE
Without even thinking, Ms. Grange told The Sunday Gleaner that it was the love they shared because he is not seen as a Member of Parliament but as a family member and he sees them the same way. That's why, where she is concerned, Mr. Seaga's successor will never fill Mr. Seaga's shoes. She said that having lived among and done business with the citizens before becoming their MP, Mr. Seaga has served the constituency for over 40 years. She said he has built up a record of achievement and had left a legacy that cannot be surpassed.
"I am often described as a Seaga fanatic but we see ourselves as a family and we have to stick together; we have differences and argue but there is always respect, understanding and appreciation of each other. In the end we are one," she said.
And why hasn't this approach transcended to the rest of the party, The Sunday Gleaner asked?
Ms. Grange said that West Kingston residents had been through so much, they don't dismiss each other's concerns easily. "We don't see anybody as lesser beings in West Kingston but some see others that way in the party. Mr. Seaga instilled in us that we have reason to be proud of our background and where we are from."
But when asked if she had a preference for any of the contenders for leadership of the party, Ms. Grange dodged the direct answer opting instead to say that nominations are open and she thinks both Bruce Golding and Pearnel Charles would get nods.
NO FAVOURITES
She said she had no favourites because she did not want to add to the division and would respect and work with whomever was chosen but was not personally interested in any leadership position now because there was, "too much deception."
She said further that respect must be mutual and go hand in hand with sincerity and honesty.
Regarding the two front-runners Ms. Grange said she has a good relationship with Mr. Charles and a good rapport with Mr. Golding, although there were times when the relationship with Mr. Charles was strained.
And what of the strained relationship with persons in her constituency who wanted her out? The seasoned politician who, during this interview, had to take numerous telephone calls to deal with problems in the constituency, said when demands and expectations surpassed available re-sources, there would be frustrations. She said there will always be open critical elements in the constituency but when there was plenty resources, everything was okay.
FRUSTRATION
"Demands today exceed what you can achieve and people are becoming more vocal with their displeasure and frustration; the first person to turn against is the politician. It goes with the territory, if you throw your hands up, it means you were never really interested in people and service."
But, she noted, there were more grateful persons than those expressing discontent.
Will Mr. Seaga's departure have any significant impact on her future? And what of the party's future given its frequent public quarrels?
"I am not negative about the future of the party. I hope we can settle down soon and be a viable alternative," she said.
She believes that after the party's conference and the leadership question has been settled, things will settle down. However she advises, "If Bruce becomes leader, he has to reach out to all and be all embracing; he can't isolate anyone, he has to recognise those who have worked and stayed the course and ensure that these persons are a part of the mainstream of the party."
