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Jamaica Labour Party Shows 'New Face'
Published: Tuesday | December 7, 20105 Comments and 0 Reactions
Arthur Hall, Senior Staff Reporter
It was a new-look Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) officer corps that met last night following the first major shake-up of that body since 2003.
At least seven new faces were scheduled to be in last night's meeting, which was to be led by JLP leader, Prime Minister Bruce Golding.
Among the familiar faces missing would be some of the persons who engineered the JLP's 2007 election victory.
That list includes former Chairman Dr Ken Baugh, long-time General Secretary Karl Samuda, former Deputy Leader Dr Horace Chang, and former Deputy Treasurer Daryl Vaz.
Also missing would be former Deputy Chairman Rudyard Spencer, former Deputy General Secretary Dr Ronald Robinson, and another former Deputy General Secretary Dennis Meadows.
In their space would be new Chairman Mike Henry and his deputy, Robert Montague, Deputy Treasurer Gregory Mair, and three new deputy general secretaries - Ian Murray, Warren Newby and Dr Sandra Nesbeth.
Aundré Franklin was also slated to attend last night's meeting, but this time occupying the general secretary's chair instead of the seat he had occupied since 2003 when he was voted deputy general secretary of the party.
Counting its blessings
The executive positions were finalised on Sunday when the party's Central Executive elected the final officers to join Golding and deputy leaders Audley Shaw, James Robertson, Desmond McKenzie and the recently elected Dr Christopher Tufton.
With massive public interest in the elections and the possibility of more of the hostility that has characterised many of its internal contests, the JLP emerged relatively unscathed this time around, and the new executive is counting its blessings.
"Let me first congratulate everyone in the party for a well-run and democratically administered selection process," Henry told journalists yesterday.
"This reflects the stability of the Jamaica Labour Party and its ability to face these issues and continue to develop the country," the new chairman added.
"There is nobody who goes into a contest that doesn't want to win and, therefore, we do have to look at ourselves in relation to that ... . We have to accept the fact that when the people speak, the people speak," said Henry, as he sought to dispel fears that tension over the election results could hurt the party.
Henry brushed aside concerns that being 75 years old could impact his performance as chairman, while arguing that he will be assisted by his deputy, Montague, who is many years younger.
For his part, Franklin again identified the selection of candidates for all constituencies and parish council divisions as the priority for the secretariat he now leads.
According to Franklin: "We hope that by the middle of January, we will have our full slate of candidates, giving the prime minister and leader of the party the option, whenever he chooses, to call elections."
He said the JLP has fewer than 10 seats to be filled for the next general election.
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/2...ead/lead2.html
Published: Tuesday | December 7, 20105 Comments and 0 Reactions
Arthur Hall, Senior Staff Reporter
It was a new-look Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) officer corps that met last night following the first major shake-up of that body since 2003.
At least seven new faces were scheduled to be in last night's meeting, which was to be led by JLP leader, Prime Minister Bruce Golding.
Among the familiar faces missing would be some of the persons who engineered the JLP's 2007 election victory.
That list includes former Chairman Dr Ken Baugh, long-time General Secretary Karl Samuda, former Deputy Leader Dr Horace Chang, and former Deputy Treasurer Daryl Vaz.
Also missing would be former Deputy Chairman Rudyard Spencer, former Deputy General Secretary Dr Ronald Robinson, and another former Deputy General Secretary Dennis Meadows.
In their space would be new Chairman Mike Henry and his deputy, Robert Montague, Deputy Treasurer Gregory Mair, and three new deputy general secretaries - Ian Murray, Warren Newby and Dr Sandra Nesbeth.
Aundré Franklin was also slated to attend last night's meeting, but this time occupying the general secretary's chair instead of the seat he had occupied since 2003 when he was voted deputy general secretary of the party.
Counting its blessings
The executive positions were finalised on Sunday when the party's Central Executive elected the final officers to join Golding and deputy leaders Audley Shaw, James Robertson, Desmond McKenzie and the recently elected Dr Christopher Tufton.
With massive public interest in the elections and the possibility of more of the hostility that has characterised many of its internal contests, the JLP emerged relatively unscathed this time around, and the new executive is counting its blessings.
"Let me first congratulate everyone in the party for a well-run and democratically administered selection process," Henry told journalists yesterday.
"This reflects the stability of the Jamaica Labour Party and its ability to face these issues and continue to develop the country," the new chairman added.
"There is nobody who goes into a contest that doesn't want to win and, therefore, we do have to look at ourselves in relation to that ... . We have to accept the fact that when the people speak, the people speak," said Henry, as he sought to dispel fears that tension over the election results could hurt the party.
Henry brushed aside concerns that being 75 years old could impact his performance as chairman, while arguing that he will be assisted by his deputy, Montague, who is many years younger.
For his part, Franklin again identified the selection of candidates for all constituencies and parish council divisions as the priority for the secretariat he now leads.
According to Franklin: "We hope that by the middle of January, we will have our full slate of candidates, giving the prime minister and leader of the party the option, whenever he chooses, to call elections."
He said the JLP has fewer than 10 seats to be filled for the next general election.
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/2...ead/lead2.html
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