Omar Anderson, Gleaner Writer
Jamaica Labour Party Chairman Dr. Ken Baugh (left) captures the attention of colleagues Audley Shaw (centre), deputy leader, and Karl Samuda (right), general secretary, during a press conference at the party's Belmont Road headquarters in New Kingston yesterday. In the background is Andre Franklin, JLP deputy general secretary. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
THE JAMAICA Labour Party (JLP) said it would be fully ready by next March to challenge the People's National Party (PNP) in whatever election it calls.
A general election is constitutionally due by late 2007 and local government
elections are due to be called after June next year.
JLP general secretary Karl Samuda said yesterday that within three months, the party should have finalised the selection of candidates for the island's constituencies and parish council divisions.
"The party at the moment is getting to the stage where we consider it ready for an election to defeat the People's National Party," he said. "We are 80 per cent of the way there."
Mr. Samuda was updating journalists on the party's readiness for this weekend's JLP annual conference at the National Arena.
He said the party would be changing candidates in certain constituencies and parish council divisions in order to face the electorate.
"The party is putting itself in a position to face an election (which) we feel confident will be held in 2006," the JLP general secretary stated.
According to Mr. Samuda, the JLP's four deputy leaders, among others, will be presented at the conference on Saturday. Party leader Bruce Golding is to give the main address at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday.
VOTE-BUYING CLAIMS
Commenting on the party's victory in the Alexandria parish council election last Thursday, JLP deputy leader for Area Council Three, Audley Shaw, said the party was incensed about vote-buying that reportedly occurred during the campaign.
According to him, proceeds from contracts which bypassed the National Contracts Commission were allegedly used to influence voters.
However, the PNP in a press release yesterday called on the JLP to produce evidence or report it to the Political Ombudsman. The party said it was, however, conducting its own investigation into the allegations.
Last week, the JLP's Gilbert McLeod polled 2,021 votes to beat the PNP's Shirley Campbell, who amassed 1,462 votes in the Alexandria by-election.
