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Standing Committee Must Know First - Henry
Published: Monday | October 3, 2011
Erica Virtue, Senior Gleaner Writer
Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Chairman Lester 'Mike' Henry will tonight inform the party's Standing Committee - the third highest decision-making body - if he will be throwing his hat in the ring to become party leader, four days after announcing that he was having consultations with his constituents.
Sources close to Henry told The Gleaner that his constituents have convinced the veteran politician to enter the race but when contacted yesterday, he said he must follow protocol.
"As chairman of this party, I have to wait until this Monday (tonight) night, when the party has put things in place, before making any public comment," he told The Gleaner, moments after his football team, Humble Lions, went down in a National Premier League match against Sporting Central at Effortville in Clarendon.
Henry, member of parliament for Clarendon Central since October 1989, held consultations with constituents last Thursday and Friday.
At that time, he told The Gleaner he would be listening keenly to his constituents who have re-elected him for five consecutive terms.
"As chairman, I don't want to be placed in a position of having declared my candidacy, and being chairman looking at the rest of the party's structure. It's not how we do things," said Henry, who is also the minister of transport and Works.
Growing list of aspirants
Henry could join a long and growing list of aspirants who are expected to tell tonight's meeting of their decision. Nominations are now open for candidates to replace Prime Minister Bruce Golding, who announced his departure from both the country's top job as prime minister and the leadership of the JLP one week ago.
Nominations close October 20, three weeks' time.
Should Henry announce his candidacy, the JLP would be without a chairman, as he will have to step down from the position in the interest of transparency.
As chairman, his office and that of the general secretary must supervise the preparation and sanitation of the delegates' list.
But there could be an even further dilemma, with Deputy Chairman and Agriculture Minister Robert Montague himself considering entering the race.
At least four other Cabinet ministers, including Deputy Prime Minister Dr Kenneth Baugh, Finance Minister Audley Shaw, Education Minister Andrew Holness and Commerce Minister Dr Chris Tufton, are expected to make a decision shortly.
erica.virtue@gleanerjm.com
Published: Monday | October 3, 2011
Erica Virtue, Senior Gleaner Writer
Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Chairman Lester 'Mike' Henry will tonight inform the party's Standing Committee - the third highest decision-making body - if he will be throwing his hat in the ring to become party leader, four days after announcing that he was having consultations with his constituents.
Sources close to Henry told The Gleaner that his constituents have convinced the veteran politician to enter the race but when contacted yesterday, he said he must follow protocol.
"As chairman of this party, I have to wait until this Monday (tonight) night, when the party has put things in place, before making any public comment," he told The Gleaner, moments after his football team, Humble Lions, went down in a National Premier League match against Sporting Central at Effortville in Clarendon.
Henry, member of parliament for Clarendon Central since October 1989, held consultations with constituents last Thursday and Friday.
At that time, he told The Gleaner he would be listening keenly to his constituents who have re-elected him for five consecutive terms.
"As chairman, I don't want to be placed in a position of having declared my candidacy, and being chairman looking at the rest of the party's structure. It's not how we do things," said Henry, who is also the minister of transport and Works.
Growing list of aspirants
Henry could join a long and growing list of aspirants who are expected to tell tonight's meeting of their decision. Nominations are now open for candidates to replace Prime Minister Bruce Golding, who announced his departure from both the country's top job as prime minister and the leadership of the JLP one week ago.
Nominations close October 20, three weeks' time.
Should Henry announce his candidacy, the JLP would be without a chairman, as he will have to step down from the position in the interest of transparency.
As chairman, his office and that of the general secretary must supervise the preparation and sanitation of the delegates' list.
But there could be an even further dilemma, with Deputy Chairman and Agriculture Minister Robert Montague himself considering entering the race.
At least four other Cabinet ministers, including Deputy Prime Minister Dr Kenneth Baugh, Finance Minister Audley Shaw, Education Minister Andrew Holness and Commerce Minister Dr Chris Tufton, are expected to make a decision shortly.
erica.virtue@gleanerjm.com
