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JLP in turmoil
LLOYD B SMITH
Saturday, October 09, 2010
The culture of the Jamaica Labour Party has been one in which the party leader rules the roost in an autocratic manner. Founder Sir Alexander Bustamante did not get the sobriquet "Chief" because of his imposing stature, but because when he talked "no dogs barked". He ruled the roost even when ill health overwhelmed him.
Former JLP Leader Edward Seaga made it quite clear by his 'one Don' declaration when he had to stave off several attempts at dethroning him. Of course, the JLP paid dearly for that DeGaullian approach ("Après moi le déluge" - meaning without me at the helm everything will self-destruct). For over 18 years, the party remained in the political wilderness until a group of young Turks used a massive amount of money and Upper St Andrew influence to send him packing into retirement and replace him with the Golden One, Orette Bruce Golding.
GOLDING... this must be a most lonely and tumultuous time for him.
1/1
From the outset, Seaga made it quite clear that Mr Golding would be an ineffective leader because he was indecisive, a vacillator who had difficulty saying what he means and meaning what he says. Well, the chickens have come home to roost because it is fair to say that it has been Mr Golding's indecisiveness that has caused him to be in his current pickle with respect to the Manatt, Phelps and Phillips, Christopher "Dudus" Coke extradition conundrum that has ultimately led to his now facing a libel suit lodged against him by noted attorney at law and JLP insider Harold Brady.
It is well known in political circles that once a party reaches its third year in power, then it has to get into election mode if it hopes to get a consecutive term. The JLP is at such a crossroads and things on the surface do not look very pretty, hence the jostling for positions in the party's hierarchy in order to make it battle-ready. The major problem now facing the party, however, is how not to kill the goose that lays the golden egg (no pun intended!) Or will it be a case that Bruce's goose is cooked?
It cannot be good for the ruling JLP at this time to present a divided and contentious picture to the Jamaican electorate. The massive crowd at the People's National Party 72nd annual conference, plus the tremendous enthusiasm displayed by supporters, not to mention the show of unity (even if cosmetic) with Sister P (President Portia Simpson Miller) and her former rival Brother P (Dr Peter Phillips) hugging and kissing on stage must have discombobulated the JLP. It would appear, therefore, that the party is in a panic mode, hence the rumblings at Belmont Road.
In the final analysis, two factions are likely to emerge in the JLP. One that supports Golding and who will seek to repackage him for the coming general election, while the other which sees him as damaged goods and would want to throw him overboard and opt for an Audley Shaw, Andrew Holness or Christopher Tufton (all of whom have some amount of credibility) to sit in the driver's seat. Needless to say, that this scenario by its very nature will have serious implications for the way forward.
To begin with, the JLP must find a way to ensure that it goes into its annual conference due in November with a united front and a leader that is in no way a questionable entity. Golding will have to put his stamp on the party in order to ensure that it is his way or the highway. That is the nature of the game. Any waffling on his part or splintering due to various factions going in different directions will help to sound the death knell for a party that traditionally is yet to come up with a dispute resolution mechanism that works.
The Brady libel suit has the potential to bare the very innards of the party to the public and can have deleterious consequences, notwithstanding who wins or loses. It would suit the JLP to seriously look at a settlement outside of court. However, this may prove to be very difficult based on the stance taken by Mr Golding in his response to the filing of the libel suit. Clearly, Mr Golding has declared war but he must be reminded that he may win the battle but lose the war, taking his beloved party downhill with him. Lest he forget, in war it is not who wins or loses, it is what is left when the smoke clears.
In the meantime, Cabinet performers such as Tufton, Bartlett, Shaw and Holness must be in a quandary because all this distraction and potential destruction of that great party is happening at a time when their stocks are high. The potent question for them must be, should they go down with Golding or distance themselves from the foray and hope for the best? In all of this, they must be careful they do not become victims of "a night of long knives" because yon Cassius (and there is more than one of them) has a lean and hungry look. And there may well be a Brutus somewhere in the mix.
Alas, poor Bruce. This must be a most lonely and tumultuous time for him. Everywhere he turns he is likely to be "jooked by macca". Someone had better lend him a suit of armour, preferably Teflon, to stave off the slings and arrows of outrageous misfortune. Like the proverbial phoenix, he may rise from the ashes of Tivoli and once again become the golden child of Jamaican politics, chequered as it already is. Once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide. As the drama unfolds, let's see if Labourites will hand him a lifesaving jacket or let him fall overboard. For now, Mr Golding is walking the plank. Fly the gate and let in the pirates? Nuff said!
lloydbsmith@hotmail.com
LLOYD B SMITH
Saturday, October 09, 2010
The culture of the Jamaica Labour Party has been one in which the party leader rules the roost in an autocratic manner. Founder Sir Alexander Bustamante did not get the sobriquet "Chief" because of his imposing stature, but because when he talked "no dogs barked". He ruled the roost even when ill health overwhelmed him.
Former JLP Leader Edward Seaga made it quite clear by his 'one Don' declaration when he had to stave off several attempts at dethroning him. Of course, the JLP paid dearly for that DeGaullian approach ("Après moi le déluge" - meaning without me at the helm everything will self-destruct). For over 18 years, the party remained in the political wilderness until a group of young Turks used a massive amount of money and Upper St Andrew influence to send him packing into retirement and replace him with the Golden One, Orette Bruce Golding.
GOLDING... this must be a most lonely and tumultuous time for him.
1/1
From the outset, Seaga made it quite clear that Mr Golding would be an ineffective leader because he was indecisive, a vacillator who had difficulty saying what he means and meaning what he says. Well, the chickens have come home to roost because it is fair to say that it has been Mr Golding's indecisiveness that has caused him to be in his current pickle with respect to the Manatt, Phelps and Phillips, Christopher "Dudus" Coke extradition conundrum that has ultimately led to his now facing a libel suit lodged against him by noted attorney at law and JLP insider Harold Brady.
It is well known in political circles that once a party reaches its third year in power, then it has to get into election mode if it hopes to get a consecutive term. The JLP is at such a crossroads and things on the surface do not look very pretty, hence the jostling for positions in the party's hierarchy in order to make it battle-ready. The major problem now facing the party, however, is how not to kill the goose that lays the golden egg (no pun intended!) Or will it be a case that Bruce's goose is cooked?
It cannot be good for the ruling JLP at this time to present a divided and contentious picture to the Jamaican electorate. The massive crowd at the People's National Party 72nd annual conference, plus the tremendous enthusiasm displayed by supporters, not to mention the show of unity (even if cosmetic) with Sister P (President Portia Simpson Miller) and her former rival Brother P (Dr Peter Phillips) hugging and kissing on stage must have discombobulated the JLP. It would appear, therefore, that the party is in a panic mode, hence the rumblings at Belmont Road.
In the final analysis, two factions are likely to emerge in the JLP. One that supports Golding and who will seek to repackage him for the coming general election, while the other which sees him as damaged goods and would want to throw him overboard and opt for an Audley Shaw, Andrew Holness or Christopher Tufton (all of whom have some amount of credibility) to sit in the driver's seat. Needless to say, that this scenario by its very nature will have serious implications for the way forward.
To begin with, the JLP must find a way to ensure that it goes into its annual conference due in November with a united front and a leader that is in no way a questionable entity. Golding will have to put his stamp on the party in order to ensure that it is his way or the highway. That is the nature of the game. Any waffling on his part or splintering due to various factions going in different directions will help to sound the death knell for a party that traditionally is yet to come up with a dispute resolution mechanism that works.
The Brady libel suit has the potential to bare the very innards of the party to the public and can have deleterious consequences, notwithstanding who wins or loses. It would suit the JLP to seriously look at a settlement outside of court. However, this may prove to be very difficult based on the stance taken by Mr Golding in his response to the filing of the libel suit. Clearly, Mr Golding has declared war but he must be reminded that he may win the battle but lose the war, taking his beloved party downhill with him. Lest he forget, in war it is not who wins or loses, it is what is left when the smoke clears.
In the meantime, Cabinet performers such as Tufton, Bartlett, Shaw and Holness must be in a quandary because all this distraction and potential destruction of that great party is happening at a time when their stocks are high. The potent question for them must be, should they go down with Golding or distance themselves from the foray and hope for the best? In all of this, they must be careful they do not become victims of "a night of long knives" because yon Cassius (and there is more than one of them) has a lean and hungry look. And there may well be a Brutus somewhere in the mix.
Alas, poor Bruce. This must be a most lonely and tumultuous time for him. Everywhere he turns he is likely to be "jooked by macca". Someone had better lend him a suit of armour, preferably Teflon, to stave off the slings and arrows of outrageous misfortune. Like the proverbial phoenix, he may rise from the ashes of Tivoli and once again become the golden child of Jamaican politics, chequered as it already is. Once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide. As the drama unfolds, let's see if Labourites will hand him a lifesaving jacket or let him fall overboard. For now, Mr Golding is walking the plank. Fly the gate and let in the pirates? Nuff said!
lloydbsmith@hotmail.com
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