THE EDITOR, Sir:
Time is now overdue for the hierarchy of the JLP to rise and demand the removal of its ineffectual leader Edward Seaga if it's ever to have a chance to form the government of this country. He has done the unprecedented: lead the party to its fourth consecutive general election defeat at the polls.
Only an ineffectual leader could have failed to win a victory over a middling party such as the PNP. He failed even with the 11th hour return of one of its brightest sons back to the fold, Bruce Golding.
Whatever construction or spin is put upon it, the refusal of the electorate to allow the JLP to form the government is a rejection of Edward Seaga and not a rejection of the poor JLP election campaign, except as it was engineered by him. Despite the poor campaign, the JLP doubled the number of seats it won in the last elections. So there was a factor in more people not voting for the JLP despite the desperate last-minute return of Bruce Golding and the campaign.
Had Seaga brought back Golding with the promise that he would replace him as party leader then Labourites and some PNPites would have given them a chance; but now it is clear that without naming Golding as his successor, he was just using him to row the boat ashore. But he miscalculated and now he, Golding, and the whole lot are adrift for the next five years.
And the sadness is that the JLP saw it all coming and did nothing. In a country which holds the admonition to "tek sleep mark deat" they failed to take coma as a warning. Mr. Seaga's fractiousness, divisiveness and intemperateness have weakened the party by expelling and alienating the brightest and most ambitious members. Such a party cannot win elections...
This is why the party leaders, the hierarchy and the young blood must rise up and demand his resignation. Leave him with West Kingston where they have revered him as more than mortal, stupendously giving him 10 successive landslide victories.
They must demand that he name as successor Bruce Golding and put him before the other aspirants to reject or accept him.
I am etc,
EWIN JAMES,
eroyjames@aol.com
Longwood, Florida
Via Go-Jamaica
