THE JAMAICA Labour Party (JLP) could be faced with a major problem in East Portland where two candidates are currently faced with an impasse, with both seeking to represent the party in the next general election.
Not only is the stand-off between the candidates, Renford Grant and Errol Hanna, said to be threatening the stability of the party in the area, but according to some delegates, could cost the JLP the seat.
"This is classic JLP politics," said a delegate, who did not wish to be identified with this story.
"At this stage of the game the party should have long settled on a candidate which would have prevented this potentially embarrassing situation. The PNP (People's National Party) can lose this seat but if we keep up this unnecessary squabble they may just win by default. I am starting to wonder if indeed we do have a death wish."
The JLP has been without a caretaker for the area since early last year following the death of Sam Roberts, the party's candidate in the 1997 general election. Mr. Roberts lost to the PNP's Dr. Donald Rhodd.
Mr. Grant, a farmer from Fellowship district in the parish, had applied to the JLP's selection committee for the caretaker position from as early as last year but had his application rejected. He then took his case to the central executive of the party which has promised to review his petition. He was also given permission to continue drumming up support for his candidacy in the constituency.
However, the JLP has also given the go-ahead to Errol Hanna, a building contractor, to work in the constituency to shore up support for his candidacy.
This has not gone over well with Mr. Grant and his supporters who are viewing the appearance of Mr. Hanna as a sinister plot to derail the candidacy of their supporter.
"We all know that there are those in the party who would rather not have Mr. Grant contest this seat," charged, Bennie White, delegate and supporter of Mr. Grant. "What we want is a democratic process where our man gets the opportunity to face off with his opponent. We believe we would win hands down. We are getting the impression though that there are some people who are afraid of this. For too long we have had many outsiders coming in here to represent us. This we can do without as we will not be fooled again."
Mr. Grant is confident that he will be the candidate to represent the party in the next general election and said that he would resist any move that would try to remove him without having the benefit of a selection.
"It was done in the case of Percy Brodrick and Pearnel Charles so I don't see why this case should be any different," he said. Mr. Grant and his supporters have also been distributing flyers throughout the constituency portraying Mr. Hanna as a "foreigner and an outsider." The flyer reads: "No stranger for MP this time."
In the meantime, Mr. Hanna has all but declared himself the official caretaker for the constituency. At a meeting last week at the Port Antonio Marina where Ministry of Tourism officials met with the town's business interests to discuss the tourism master plan, Mr. Hanna introduced himself as the JLP caretaker. He, however, corrected himself quickly by telling the audience that he was hoping to represent the JLP in the next election.
JLP chairman Ryan Peralto, in an interview from his home yesterday, said the JLP had given both candidates permission to work the candidacy, but noted that a selection was not mandatory. He said the party was concerned that the situation within the constituency had gotten ugly and was threatening to get out of hand.
"We are closely monitoring the situation and reserve the right to withdraw one of the candidates if we feel that candidate's behaviour is harmful to the party," Mr. Peralto said. "If both stay the course with no more of those ugly incidents we have had in the past then a run-off may be what will decide who the candidate will be," Mr. Peralto said.
