Golding A DRAMATIC reduction in funds flowing to the National Demo-cratic Movement since 1997, was one of the chief reasons for founding leader Bruce Golding's decision to call it quits on Sunday.
NDM chairman Stafford Haughton said yesterday that Mr. Golding was concerned that donations to the party had dried up. "He couldn't understand how we had become so strapped for cash after the 1997 general election and I think that was part of the problem," he said.
Mr. Haughton said it was predictable that the cash situation would worsen after the poor showing in the St. Ann North East by-election and this concerned Mr. Golding.
Although he said he couldn't confirm or deny rumours that a $20-million support package was promised the NDM by financial interests at its founding and whether the money had been raised, Mr. Haughton said the movement had no financial problems until after the 1997 general election. There was no doubt that a lot of this financial support was now going to the JLP, he said.
A special meeting of the movement's executive, planned for this afternoon at its Easton Avenue head office in Kingston, will discuss the party's financial situation, as a priority, and also start the search for a new leader.
Mr. Haughton said the main candidates for leadership were the movement's four vice-presidents -- Wayne Chen, Hyacinth Bennett, Barbara Clarke and Russell Hammond. But, he said there was also a suggestion that someone be recruited from outside the leadership. "It would have to be someone without a JLP or PNP connection and who is a known NDM supporter, who has been working in the background," he said.
