JLP Preparing For Leadership Battle

KINGSTON, Jamaica CMC – The main opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has established a three-member, internal, electoral commission to prepare for a possible election after former finance minister, Audley Shaw, announced his intention to challenge former prime minister, Andrew Holness, for leadership of the party.

The Commission, formed at the weekly meeting of the party’s Standing Committee late Monday, will be chaired by Queen’s Counsel, George Soutar, with veteran politician, Derrick Smith, and attorney, Tom Tavares-Finson, the other members.

“Our mandate really is to oversee the behaviour prior, during and after the process. The Commission was just established, so there is not a lot more I want to say about it at this stage,” said Smith.

Party officials say that the election between Shaw, a JLP deouty leader and Holness coukld take place ahead of the party’s annual conference in November.

The JLP Standing Committee also agreed that every effort must be made to ensure that the campaign for the election be conducted without acrimony.

“The party now has to recognise that there could be a challenge. No challenge has now been declared, but there could be a challenge, and therefore the Secretariat has been instructed to ensure that institution of the Party will be functional and balanced: that (it) will be credible and transparent and to make sure that the party looks good in the public eye in managing any such event,” said JLP general secretary, Dr. Horace Chang.

Chang said he would meet with Shaw on Tuesday in an effort to get details regarding his possible leadership challenge.

“I will certainly call and speak to him tomorrow (Tuesday), now that we have reached this stage – or sometime during the course of this week. I know that he will inform me…he has followed that principle throughout, so I don’t expect any difference,” Chang added.

Holness, became party leader and Prime Minister after Bruce Golding stepped down from the positions in the wake of the controversy that surrounded the extradition of Christopher “Dudus” Coke to the United States on drug and gun running charges.

For several weeks it had been rumoured that Shaw would challenge Holness, who has been described by detractors in the party as indecisive and weak.

Disgruntled party members have blamed Holness for the JLP’s crushing defeat in the December 2011 general election.