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Samuda says he has identified Golding's successor
I don’t back a loser, says Samuda
BY CONRAD HAMILTON Senior staff reporter hamiltonc@jamaicaobserver.com
Thursday, September 29, 2011
VETERAN Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) power player, Karl Samuda, says he has already identified 'in his mind' the person who is best placed to take over the leadership of the party when prime minister and party leader, Bruce Golding makes his exit in November.
The disclosure comes even as the country awaits word from some of those who are being eyed as possible successors.
Since the shocking announcement on Sunday, there have been suggestions that deputy leaders Audley Shaw and Dr Christopher Tufton as well as House Leader and party spokesman Andrew Holness could be lining up for the race scheduled to take place on November 21 at the party's annual conference.
It is also understood that Robert Montague is also being eyed by some party insiders as a likely contender.
However Observer sources said the agriculture minister, who cut short his official visit to Japan, will not be entering the race.
But while the likely contenders contemplate their next move, Samuda — the man in charge of the Labour Party's election machinery — yesterday told the Observer that he knew the best person to lead the party, but said he was not yet ready to divulge that name.
"I don't back a loser," he declared.
"I have decided in my mind who is the best person to secure victory for the Labour Party, in my mind, beyond any shadow of a doubt, I know that. This is nothing personal, this is just strictly business. I am not going to say anything yet, by the time they declare I will be sharing that view. One of the most important things to me is that whosoever is chosen must be able to lead the party to victory at the general election.
I don't think winning a battle should be confused with winning a war," said the man who successfully backed current general secretary and then- underdog Senator Aundre Franklyn against the powerful Daryl Vaz for the prominent post late last year.
"We are in good shape, whether we have an election of one or three people, we are going to be all right," Samuda told the Observer.
Meanwhile key figures within the top brass of the JLP are trying to mend fences even as the party moves to identify a new leader to replace Golding.
Leaked information from Monday night's meeting of the party's Standing Committee revealed that there were heated exchanges, which resulted in an abrupt end to the meeting.
It is understood that the main row surrounded a meeting at the residence of Harold Brady -- a party member who fell out of grace with the prime minister and other party members over the handling of the Manatt, Phelps and Phillips scandal.
Several commentators, who got wind of the crossfire at Monday's meeting, said the party was on the verge of implosion — a characteristic that has accompanied some of the spats within the party.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...#ixzz1ZLNtQS2H
I don’t back a loser, says Samuda
BY CONRAD HAMILTON Senior staff reporter hamiltonc@jamaicaobserver.com
Thursday, September 29, 2011
VETERAN Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) power player, Karl Samuda, says he has already identified 'in his mind' the person who is best placed to take over the leadership of the party when prime minister and party leader, Bruce Golding makes his exit in November.
The disclosure comes even as the country awaits word from some of those who are being eyed as possible successors.
Since the shocking announcement on Sunday, there have been suggestions that deputy leaders Audley Shaw and Dr Christopher Tufton as well as House Leader and party spokesman Andrew Holness could be lining up for the race scheduled to take place on November 21 at the party's annual conference.
It is also understood that Robert Montague is also being eyed by some party insiders as a likely contender.
However Observer sources said the agriculture minister, who cut short his official visit to Japan, will not be entering the race.
But while the likely contenders contemplate their next move, Samuda — the man in charge of the Labour Party's election machinery — yesterday told the Observer that he knew the best person to lead the party, but said he was not yet ready to divulge that name.
"I don't back a loser," he declared.
"I have decided in my mind who is the best person to secure victory for the Labour Party, in my mind, beyond any shadow of a doubt, I know that. This is nothing personal, this is just strictly business. I am not going to say anything yet, by the time they declare I will be sharing that view. One of the most important things to me is that whosoever is chosen must be able to lead the party to victory at the general election.
I don't think winning a battle should be confused with winning a war," said the man who successfully backed current general secretary and then- underdog Senator Aundre Franklyn against the powerful Daryl Vaz for the prominent post late last year.
"We are in good shape, whether we have an election of one or three people, we are going to be all right," Samuda told the Observer.
Meanwhile key figures within the top brass of the JLP are trying to mend fences even as the party moves to identify a new leader to replace Golding.
Leaked information from Monday night's meeting of the party's Standing Committee revealed that there were heated exchanges, which resulted in an abrupt end to the meeting.
It is understood that the main row surrounded a meeting at the residence of Harold Brady -- a party member who fell out of grace with the prime minister and other party members over the handling of the Manatt, Phelps and Phillips scandal.
Several commentators, who got wind of the crossfire at Monday's meeting, said the party was on the verge of implosion — a characteristic that has accompanied some of the spats within the party.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...#ixzz1ZLNtQS2H
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