Smith

Arthur Hall, Senior Staff Reporter

Ailing Member of Parliament Derrick Smith says he has no plans to quit representational politics before the end of the current term.

Smith is receiving support from the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Secretariat, which had refuted claims that he is to be replaced.

While not directly addressing claims that the party has started to look at possible replacements, both Smith and JLP General Secretary Karl Samuda yesterday declared there was no truth to reports that the North West St Andrew member of Parliament was to be replaced.

Samuda described the reports as unfounded rumour mongering and a mischievous policy by persons seeking to create confusion.

Smith, who has been in the United States receiving medical treatment, was equally strident as he labelled the reports as total nonsense and mischief.

"This is to create destabilisation in the party and the constituency," he declared.

During an interview with Wilmot 'Mutty' Perkins on the Power 106 FM radio programme, 'Perkins Online', Smith confirmed a Gleaner report that he should be back in the island on the weekend, but did not say when he would be back in office.

Spoke with doctor

"That depends on two things; how fast I would improve and, the preparations there (at the offices of the Ministry of Mining and Telecom-munications)," Smith said.

According to Smith, he recently spoke with his doctor in the United States who expressed satisfaction with his recovery.

On Thursday, JLP sources told The Gleaner that the party had started to look at possible replacements for Smith in the event he was not be able to continue as a member of Parlia-ment for an extended period.

The sources were clear that Smith, a senior deputy leader in the JLP, would not be kicked out, but said the party was pre-paring for any eventuality.

According to the sources, two senators and the councillor for the Hughenden division, Audley Gordon, were the front-runners.

arthur.hall@gleanerjm.com