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BATTLE lines have been drawn and war rhetoric — including the fixing of bayonets, the digging of trenches and the burning of white flags — is being used by members of the People's National Party's (PNP's) organisation in East Rural St Andrew, despite desperate efforts to resolve a conflict that has left the governing party's machinery in that constituency in shambles.
In one of the many caustic e-mails obtained by the Jamaica Observer, member of parliament Damion Crawford — who is at the centre of the feud — made it clear that he has no intention of retreating. "If the war has the outcome of replacing community leaders with community builders, then be it fortunately or unfortunately, I have already burned my white flag," Crawford wrote.
CRAWFORD… I am clear in my mind as to how Government’s resources should be used
But in response, Councillor Artnell McDonald (PNP, Kintyre Division) utilised even heavier artillery as he fired back at Crawford, the first-time MP who had campaigned as the 'People's Gladiator'.
"What you and the party may not know is that the community leaders, Dallas and Harbour View division, have already dug their trenches and fit bayonet, while we in the Kintyre division are now in the process of digging our trenches," said McDonald.
Crawford controversially took over the reigns of the party's machinery in the lead-up to the 2011 General Election. His introduction as a possible candidate caught several party loyalists in the constituency by surprise, and some well-placed members expressed outrage at what appeared to be a move by the PNP to impose a candidate on the constituency.
At the time, the comrades in East Rural St Andrew were of the view that banker Leacroft Forden, a former member of the PNP's young professional arm, the Patriots, who had been a member of the constituency's executive for more than 20 years, should be given the nod.
But despite the opposition, the party pressed ahead and in November last year advised that Crawford was the best man to take on the Jamaica Labour Party's Joan Gordon Webley.
That decision by the leadership of the PNP proved that Crawford was the ideal contender, as on general election night, he surprised many when poll results showed that he had defeated the JLP powerhouse in what was viewed as a safe JLP seat.
However, the joy of victory was not enough to defuse the simmering tensions between Crawford and several constituency officials who had concluded that the MP was distancing himself from the established constituency organisation.
Sunday Observer sources as well as copies of electronic communication between Crawford and his councillors and other prominent members of the party have confirmed that the dispute is far from over, and that at least one of the peeved PNP councillors is contemplating resignation.
Speaking with the Sunday Observer, Councillor Oliver Clue (PNP, Harbour View Division) declared that he had been instrumental in getting the constituents to accept Crawford as the candidate, and disclosed that he had worked with Crawford throughout the election campaign.
But Clue, who was once the member of parliament for the constituency, is contending that Crawford — who is now state minister in the tourism ministry — is rude and does not know how to speak to people.
"Where I am hurt is to know that since the election and all the funding that the MP received, not even one cent has been spent in the Harbour View Division, which caused him to win the election," said Clue.
"I am turned off and I am planning to tender my resignation as vice-chairman of the present steering committee, and I am asking the party to find someone else to serve as councillor, because I am not sure that I want to continue in East Rural St Andrew."
He dismissed suggestions that the party workers are opposed to Crawford's stance against partisan distribution of benefits from the political pork barrel.
"That is far from the truth, there is no one who worked closer with the JLP supporters than Oliver Clue in this constituency. I send their children to school, I help them, I work with the people because I am from the constituency," Clue asserted.
Another member of the party's machinery who spoke with the Sunday Observer last week said "rude" was too nice a description of the MP.
His failure to consult with them prior to infrastructural work being done in the constituency has decidedly put them off. One councillor complained that he just woke up one morning to find that a road had been repaired in his division without any advisories being sent to him, nor had be been consulted on it, as is the custom.
When the Sunday Observer sought responses from Councillor McDonald he indicated that he was on his way out of the country and would not be available for an interview. But based on the contents of e-mails between McDonald and Crawford it is clear that he, too, has an issue with the MP's people skills.
"Mr Crawford, you came to this constituency with total contempt for the existing leadership. From day one you start to treat us with total disrespect. I thought that you would have changed, but this is not forthcoming," said McDonald, in an e-mail sent two weeks ago.
In another correspondence, McDonald made it clear that he had withdrawn his support. "Your total lack of respect for the existing leadership should have been challenged, but in the interest of the party we held back. I am guilty of standing by and watch you destroy the leadership of this constituency. The time has come for us to stand up and fight you and your group of tourists. I have totally withdrawn my support from you and have joined the mass of beggars in East Rural who have launched a silent protest against you."
Responding to that correspondence and to concerns over the distribution of cement to a school in the constituency, Crawford insisted that he was prepared to do battle. "I have never been a man to back down from any type of war, silent or otherwise, once I am desirous of the spoils of victory. If the war is for whether or not I remain the political leader of East Rural St Andrew, that's an outcome I am unwilling to fight for, and will volunteer my retreat," he wrote.
However, one prominent party member who was asked to intervene wrote and encouraged Crawford to engage the disgruntled members.
"...there must be a vibrant organisation in place, where our members are informed, consulted and are part of the decision-making process. Obviously therefore, there must be a major communication issue, which of course is the collective responsibility of the entire leadership," was the advice given by the prominent comrade.
When contacted by the Sunday Observer, Crawford dismissed claims of being rude and suggested that the problems stem from his decision to move away from the old- style politics.
"That I am unapproachable and rude, anybody who knows me would not say that. The fact of the matter is, I am clear in my mind as to how Government's resources should be used and as to what I want to achieve, and I don't think many of the persons understand the concept of opportunity cost, so I am not going around the corner," he said.
"If a man calls me about a car I will tell him that that is not what the Government's money is supposed to do. If they tell me they need $350,000 to work on a house I tell them to go to the National Housing Trust," said Crawford as he emphasised that while on the campaign he had warned that he would not be giving "Guinness money" to constituents.
The MP insisted that his priority is education and stated that most of the near $15-million that he receives as constituency funding will be put into ventures aimed at improving the educational levels of his constituents.
"I am investing in educating the people. Right now I have 412 kids at UWI being fed for 21 days. I have hired the best teachers in GSAT (Grade Six Achievement Test), the best teachers in CXC (Caribbean Examinations Council) as part of my thrust to ensure that in 20 years, each household in the constituency has someone with a degree," he added.
Crawford, whose utterances have on many occasions caused him to be in conflict with well-placed members of his party, declared that he was willing to face the music, even if it means losing the next election.
"Politics has affected us in a particular way and the first person to try and run through that wall will be injured, then after that others will be able to go through the space made in the wall," he said.
"If it is even one term I get, I want to make sure that I did my best for the people. I wouldn't want 10 terms just to make sure that I win back each time. The biggest problem with politics in this country is the need to win back, because then you play to the loudest who are not necessarily the masses, and I am not going to do that," he declared.
The parliamentarian acknowledged that senior party members led by Phillip Paulwell, the chairman of the PNP's powerful Region Three, met with him and the disgruntled party workers last Thursday. According to him, the meeting was useful. He added that he is convinced that he has the support of the party. Crawford also suggested that over time, the aggrieved party members will begin to share his vision.
"When you remove a fruit, even if it is a sour fruit, until the new tree bears there will be a little annoyance, as people will be hungry for fruits. So having removed the existing fruit and until the plans that we have start bearing fruit, people are going to be a little upset," he told the Sunday Observer.
However, a confident-sounding Crawford declared that many people are eager to support him if those now empowered to steer the party's machinery decide to throw in their towels.
In one of the many caustic e-mails obtained by the Jamaica Observer, member of parliament Damion Crawford — who is at the centre of the feud — made it clear that he has no intention of retreating. "If the war has the outcome of replacing community leaders with community builders, then be it fortunately or unfortunately, I have already burned my white flag," Crawford wrote.
CRAWFORD… I am clear in my mind as to how Government’s resources should be used
But in response, Councillor Artnell McDonald (PNP, Kintyre Division) utilised even heavier artillery as he fired back at Crawford, the first-time MP who had campaigned as the 'People's Gladiator'.
"What you and the party may not know is that the community leaders, Dallas and Harbour View division, have already dug their trenches and fit bayonet, while we in the Kintyre division are now in the process of digging our trenches," said McDonald.
Crawford controversially took over the reigns of the party's machinery in the lead-up to the 2011 General Election. His introduction as a possible candidate caught several party loyalists in the constituency by surprise, and some well-placed members expressed outrage at what appeared to be a move by the PNP to impose a candidate on the constituency.
At the time, the comrades in East Rural St Andrew were of the view that banker Leacroft Forden, a former member of the PNP's young professional arm, the Patriots, who had been a member of the constituency's executive for more than 20 years, should be given the nod.
But despite the opposition, the party pressed ahead and in November last year advised that Crawford was the best man to take on the Jamaica Labour Party's Joan Gordon Webley.
That decision by the leadership of the PNP proved that Crawford was the ideal contender, as on general election night, he surprised many when poll results showed that he had defeated the JLP powerhouse in what was viewed as a safe JLP seat.
However, the joy of victory was not enough to defuse the simmering tensions between Crawford and several constituency officials who had concluded that the MP was distancing himself from the established constituency organisation.
Sunday Observer sources as well as copies of electronic communication between Crawford and his councillors and other prominent members of the party have confirmed that the dispute is far from over, and that at least one of the peeved PNP councillors is contemplating resignation.
Speaking with the Sunday Observer, Councillor Oliver Clue (PNP, Harbour View Division) declared that he had been instrumental in getting the constituents to accept Crawford as the candidate, and disclosed that he had worked with Crawford throughout the election campaign.
But Clue, who was once the member of parliament for the constituency, is contending that Crawford — who is now state minister in the tourism ministry — is rude and does not know how to speak to people.
"Where I am hurt is to know that since the election and all the funding that the MP received, not even one cent has been spent in the Harbour View Division, which caused him to win the election," said Clue.
"I am turned off and I am planning to tender my resignation as vice-chairman of the present steering committee, and I am asking the party to find someone else to serve as councillor, because I am not sure that I want to continue in East Rural St Andrew."
He dismissed suggestions that the party workers are opposed to Crawford's stance against partisan distribution of benefits from the political pork barrel.
"That is far from the truth, there is no one who worked closer with the JLP supporters than Oliver Clue in this constituency. I send their children to school, I help them, I work with the people because I am from the constituency," Clue asserted.
Another member of the party's machinery who spoke with the Sunday Observer last week said "rude" was too nice a description of the MP.
His failure to consult with them prior to infrastructural work being done in the constituency has decidedly put them off. One councillor complained that he just woke up one morning to find that a road had been repaired in his division without any advisories being sent to him, nor had be been consulted on it, as is the custom.
When the Sunday Observer sought responses from Councillor McDonald he indicated that he was on his way out of the country and would not be available for an interview. But based on the contents of e-mails between McDonald and Crawford it is clear that he, too, has an issue with the MP's people skills.
"Mr Crawford, you came to this constituency with total contempt for the existing leadership. From day one you start to treat us with total disrespect. I thought that you would have changed, but this is not forthcoming," said McDonald, in an e-mail sent two weeks ago.
In another correspondence, McDonald made it clear that he had withdrawn his support. "Your total lack of respect for the existing leadership should have been challenged, but in the interest of the party we held back. I am guilty of standing by and watch you destroy the leadership of this constituency. The time has come for us to stand up and fight you and your group of tourists. I have totally withdrawn my support from you and have joined the mass of beggars in East Rural who have launched a silent protest against you."
Responding to that correspondence and to concerns over the distribution of cement to a school in the constituency, Crawford insisted that he was prepared to do battle. "I have never been a man to back down from any type of war, silent or otherwise, once I am desirous of the spoils of victory. If the war is for whether or not I remain the political leader of East Rural St Andrew, that's an outcome I am unwilling to fight for, and will volunteer my retreat," he wrote.
However, one prominent party member who was asked to intervene wrote and encouraged Crawford to engage the disgruntled members.
"...there must be a vibrant organisation in place, where our members are informed, consulted and are part of the decision-making process. Obviously therefore, there must be a major communication issue, which of course is the collective responsibility of the entire leadership," was the advice given by the prominent comrade.
When contacted by the Sunday Observer, Crawford dismissed claims of being rude and suggested that the problems stem from his decision to move away from the old- style politics.
"That I am unapproachable and rude, anybody who knows me would not say that. The fact of the matter is, I am clear in my mind as to how Government's resources should be used and as to what I want to achieve, and I don't think many of the persons understand the concept of opportunity cost, so I am not going around the corner," he said.
"If a man calls me about a car I will tell him that that is not what the Government's money is supposed to do. If they tell me they need $350,000 to work on a house I tell them to go to the National Housing Trust," said Crawford as he emphasised that while on the campaign he had warned that he would not be giving "Guinness money" to constituents.
The MP insisted that his priority is education and stated that most of the near $15-million that he receives as constituency funding will be put into ventures aimed at improving the educational levels of his constituents.
"I am investing in educating the people. Right now I have 412 kids at UWI being fed for 21 days. I have hired the best teachers in GSAT (Grade Six Achievement Test), the best teachers in CXC (Caribbean Examinations Council) as part of my thrust to ensure that in 20 years, each household in the constituency has someone with a degree," he added.
Crawford, whose utterances have on many occasions caused him to be in conflict with well-placed members of his party, declared that he was willing to face the music, even if it means losing the next election.
"Politics has affected us in a particular way and the first person to try and run through that wall will be injured, then after that others will be able to go through the space made in the wall," he said.
"If it is even one term I get, I want to make sure that I did my best for the people. I wouldn't want 10 terms just to make sure that I win back each time. The biggest problem with politics in this country is the need to win back, because then you play to the loudest who are not necessarily the masses, and I am not going to do that," he declared.
The parliamentarian acknowledged that senior party members led by Phillip Paulwell, the chairman of the PNP's powerful Region Three, met with him and the disgruntled party workers last Thursday. According to him, the meeting was useful. He added that he is convinced that he has the support of the party. Crawford also suggested that over time, the aggrieved party members will begin to share his vision.
"When you remove a fruit, even if it is a sour fruit, until the new tree bears there will be a little annoyance, as people will be hungry for fruits. So having removed the existing fruit and until the plans that we have start bearing fruit, people are going to be a little upset," he told the Sunday Observer.
However, a confident-sounding Crawford declared that many people are eager to support him if those now empowered to steer the party's machinery decide to throw in their towels.
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