By Lavern Clarke, Senior Staff ReporterREACTIONS TO Bruce Golding's re-entry into the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) have been cautious, but already the move is being read as the elixir that will reinvigorate the Opposition.
"No doubt it will increase the morale of sections of the JLP," said political analyst, Dr. D.K. Duncan. The JLP has been slipping in the polls, and is now some 10 points behind the governing People's National Party (PNP).
Dr. Duncan, on Wednesday, was not prepared to comment on the impact on the electorate and the much-debated effect on Golding's credibility without first being privy to the agreement, but said the compromise reached on the separation of powers issue was key.
"If he could get an effective platform from which to put forward proposals which can fundamentally change the negative aspects of the political culture, it could be a step forward," said Dr. Duncan.
The two sides have had significant differences on issues of governance, including the question of separation of powers and term limits - matters that speak to the concentration of power that now resides in the office of Prime Minister.
Wayne Chen, who has been part of the supporting team around Mr. Golding in the run-up to yesterday's re-entry, seemed to suggest that a significantly new JLP will emerge as a result, noting that he is now in support of the party's principles as it relates to tribalism, better governance, and the politics of violence and patronage, and corruption. The seven-point memorandum of understanding between Golding and the JLP speaks to those issues.
Mr. Chen, Mr. Golding's lieutenant and finance spokesman when he led the National Demo-cratic Movement (NDM), has given his unreserved support to Golding's move, but was not prepared to make a call on whether it was the right move.
"I will support Bruce as I always have, since he has been espousing principles that I believe are right for Jamaica if we are to improve the quality of governance and really develop our potential to be a great little country," he told The Gleaner.
But he nixed emerging reports that he would be joining Mr. Golding within the Labour Party not now and certainly not in a representational role.
Asked if he would consider the move in the future, Mr. Chen said: "I'm not going into the Labour Party, so to speak," he told The Gleaner on Wednes-day. "For the short and medium term I remain a private citizen," he said, but did not comment on what would happen beyond that.
Christopher Tufton, one-time chairman of the NDM, is definitely going with Mr. Golding, confirming to The Gleaner that he would be alongside the former NDM president on the campaign trail. Mr. Tufton, who is completing studies in the United Kingdom, said he returns to finalise his thesis after the campaign, and would then be willing to consider a representational role in politics.
Mr. Golding's return will also have consequences for the NDM, which last night called an emergency meeting of its executive at 6:00 p.m. to decide how the party would react.
General secretary Brascoe Lee said he would also be putting out a personal statement, alongside the party's position.
Mr. Lee was among the founding members of the party. He reminded The Gleaner that the NDM was actually formed by the Western Eleven and it was they who had asked Mr. Golding to lead the party. "We formed it and asked him to lead it," said Mr. Lee.
The Western Eleven emerged within the JLP in the mid-1990s, intent on ousting Edward Seaga as party leader, following several losses at the polls. They were unsuccessful.
Mr. Chen is suggesting that the NDM's best move now was to offer the Jamaica Labour Party its "critical support rather than going out with a divided front", having noted that the party must decide whether to continue an independent campaign or throw its support behind the JLP, once the Opposition party demonstrates its acceptance of the principles espoused by the NDM.
"The NDM will have to meet, look at and consider the new JLP," said the businessman. "It (JLP) has gone far enough in the process to which the NDM committed itself seven years ago, and the principles I outlined earlier."
Mr. Tufton said Mr. Golding had discussions with the NDM prior to yesterday's move and that the talks have touched on a possible collaboration with the JLP.
