IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Leader of the Jamaica Labour Party Bruce Golding (centre) in discussion with Deputy Leader James Robertson (right) and Daryl Vaz (left) during the party's 67th annual conference held at the National Arena last week.Omar Anderson, Gleaner Writer
ALL EYES will be fixed today on what is expected to be a robust Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) central executive meeting, in which members of the party's reformist wing are vying to fill sensitive posts.
The reformists will seek to make up lost ground following last year's central executive conference when some members of that group were voted out of the JLP's officer corps.
Heading the list of reformers seeking office today are Daryl Vaz and attorney-at-law Tom Tavares-Finson.
Mr. Vaz is hoping to replace Kent Gammon as deputy treasurer, while Mr. Tavares-Finson is vying to become one of the JLP's four deputy general secretaries.
Yesterday, Mr. Vaz told The Sunday Gleaner that he was running based on his history in the party of "raising funds and opening corporate doors".
He was recently credited with raising a large chunk of the budget to rescue last week's JLP annual conference at the National Arena.
"I was not a member of the finance committee," he said. "I was called in two weeks before conference because of the problem the party was having in raising the money."
That aside, Mr. Vaz said he wanted to help position the JLP to wrest power from the 16-year People's National Party Govern-ment.
"For the last few elections, the Labour Party has been underfunded and, as such, this time being the last chance to save Jamaica, we have to be on a level playing field with the Government, which has access to more funding," he reasoned.
Meanwhile, JLP treasurer Chris-topher Bovell is expected to be re-elected unopposed, at the central executive meeting to be held at the JLP's Belmont Road headquarters in St. Andrew.
Dennis Meadows, who is being backed by Deputy Leader Dr. Horace Chang, is also running for one of the deputy general secretary posts. Mr. Meadows could not be reached yesterday for comment.
The incumbent deputy general secretaries are André Franklyn, Dr. Ronald Robinson, Joel Williams and Clive Mullings.
Mr. Mullings is not seeking re-election.
Yesterday, Mr. Tavares-Finson told The Sunday Gleaner that his appointment a year ago to represent the JLP on the Electoral Advisory Committee (EAC) had placed him in good stead.
"I feel I can bring something to the table in terms of the planning for the next [general] election, and the preparation of the party's electoral machinery," he stated. "I am confident I will get the support of the majority of the party."
Karl Samuda is expected to be returned unopposed to the office of general secretary. So too are chairman Dr. Ken Baugh and Deputy Chairman Ruddy Spencer.
Mr. Samuda said that the last political year would also be reviewed at today's meeting. of the central executive.meeting. of the Central Executive .
