Ian Boyne THE JAMAICA Labour Party reformers of 2003 have learnt the bitter, agonising lessons of the long trail of their failed predecessors. Their successful and widely hailed trouncing of Edward Seaga loyalists Olivia 'Babsy' Grange and Edmund Bartlett in last weekend's contest for the deputy leadership in two regions indicates their political savvy, organisational skills and strategic astuteness.
Former would-be reformers and Seaga detractors would have leaked damaging information about the party leader and his "authoritarian tactics and actions" to the media; they would have slandered his key supporters in leadership (called "sycophants and lackeys"), and would have either attacked him publicly or planted stories of their disagreements in the media, seeking to increase their stocks by so doing. They have all failed miserably and while they have been hailed and lionised by the media for their courage, fearlessness etc., they have all had to either sing sankeys or disappear into oblivion or become talk-show hosts and civil society activists. They were hopelessly inept strategists.
ENERGETIC, CONNECTED
AND PERSUASIVE TEAM
Not so these Young Turks of the Labour Party. Their motto seems to be an old JLP campaign slogan, 'Action. Not a bag a mouth'. They retreated to strategic war rooms, meticulously mapped out their strategy of routing the Old Guard, laboriously detailed the steps and put together an energetic, connected and persuasive team who would woo hearts and pocketbooks. The only hint of their covert action came through the uncontrollable Observer columnist Mark Wignall whose main obsession these days apart from his Chupski is the departure of Edward Seaga from the Jamaican political landscape.
So brilliant was the Dream Team, as Incoming Deputy Leader James Robertson dubs his particular group, that Party Leader Edward Seaga admitted in an interview that everywhere the traditionalists went for funds they heard that the reformers had already stopped by. Incensed that power seemed to have been slipping from his hands so rapidly and yet so quietly, Eddie Seaga with characteristic breach of protocol succumbed to his unruly temper and lashed out against those who were allegedly seeking to bribe delegates with up to $5 million in funds, warning that he would work with no one who won through these means.
Seaga later defended his action as one of principle, seeking to protect the integrity of his party, but observers put that down to vintage Seaga seeking to intimidate opponents and protect his own position, while trying to influence the voting. If that were a test of power and influence by Eddie Seaga, it backfired ingloriously as the delegates defiantly voted out people known to be loyal to him. Says the Observer editorial of Monday, November 10, in apparent glee: "What is immediately significant is that the challengers (for deputy leadership) and the delegates defied Mr. Seaga unlike what would have been the case even a dozen years ago as he ran the party with an iron fist and earned a nickname such as 'One Don' and could have issued quips such as 'My Way or the Highway'. What is clear is that Mr. Seaga's grip has loosened."
Says the Observer editorial, titled, 'Mr. Seaga Should Declare a Vacancy': "The post-Seaga leadership race on in not so muted fashion". But these reformers are the not the loud-mouths of the past who sought to use confrontational tactics on those who had perfected those tactics. They have moved the struggle to a higher level, indeed.
In the face of Mr. Seaga's provocative and slanderous remarks to the delegates about buying votes and his threat not to work with those who would defeat his favourites in the deputy leadership race (my interpretation), both Robertson and Chang could have reacted angrily. At the very least they could have made innuendoes or boasted of their victory over the old guard or issued some vague barbs, leaving us in the media free to interpret them as subtle attacks on Seaga and 'Babsy' Grange, who proved a sore loser. Babsy openly charged corruption, spoke bitterly of Robertson and vowed not to work with him. I won't be too harsh on 'Babsy', understanding her deep feelings at her moment of defeat after tireless efforts on behalf of her party and leader.
IMPRESSIVE ROBERTSON
Robertson could have reacted with similar bitterness. Instead in his speech he spoke respectfully of 'Edward Phillip George Seaga', praised him, and was absolutely humble, rejecting all grandstanding and gloating. He was a model of a gentleman. No innuendos, no 'throw wud', not even a slap on the wrist of 'Babsy'. Instead at the public session he offered her a seat beside him. His interview with the Gleaner published on Tuesday revealed character, restraint and remarkable emotional control. Pressed about 'Babsy' Grange's acrimonious remarks about his campaign, he said calmly "I could understand Ms Grange's being hurt she is only human. She has worked really hard for the party. Again I did not take her comments personally."
If that is even for public relations, there are many politicians in our system who could not muster that self-control even in their own political interest. James Robertson, you have impressed me. You understand what the former Harvard psychologist Daniel Goleman calls emotional intelligence.
Would-be politicians should read Robertson's extensive interview with The Gleaner to see how to respond in a calm and civil way even when under intense attack. Full marks to James Robertson. Horace Chang was his usual gentlemanly, restrained and reasoned self in his post-victory speeches. He had long established himself as one of the most credible, respected, sincere and able politicians in the country.
THE END FOR SEAGA?
Some believe this is the beginning of the end of Edward Seaga. The reformers having been so successful in bringing down their twin towers in the form of 'Babsy' Grange and Ed Bartlett, their next 'attack' will come soon when the posts of general secretary and chairman become vacant. It is widely known that those loyal to the once estranged Bruce Golding have been seeking to fill critical posts in the party in preparation for the ultimate post of party leader. 'Babsy' Grange said some of those in the forefront of the Robertson campaign openly gestured to Audley Shaw, a contender for the top post in the party, that his neck was the next to go when his deputy leader position becomes vacant next year. Having been buoyed by the defeat of the titans last weekend, the proverbial little Davids are going after any Goliath in their way.
The key for the reformers is not to get too carried away by their success and, more importantly, not to get diverted by the media. I would advise them to resist the powerful forces in the media who are pressing them to push Seaga to declare a vacancy now. There should be no haste to do that or to have a fight in the party. Do what you are doing: Go after the declared vacant posts for the next two years, go out among the 'Labourites' and sell your vision of renewal and the necessity and urgency of returning to power. Don't put the struggle in terms of old guard JLP versus Young Turks, pro-Golding JLP. Continue the line of Robertson and Chang: "Our opponents are the PNP, not Labourites".
BACKLASH
If the JLP is truly a party of democracy, there should be no problem with people saying, "Hey, look, the party leader is not immortal; we wish him long life like Bustamante but let's prepare for any eventuality, so let's look at so and so." The reformers should expect a backlash from the traditionalists, but if they can show the remarkable restraint that Robertson and Chang have shown so far and can keep as quiet as Bruce Golding has been keeping, they can win the contest for hearts and minds.
The reformers must also be careful about not alienating some key persons, including contenders such as Audley Shaw and Pearnel Charles. These men are too valuable and have too much political experience and clout to ride roughshod over. They must not be seen as enemies but as potential allies. Soon they will smell the rat that with Bruce Golding's enormous popularity amount the most influential journalists, his acceptance and backing by Big Money and his inroads into JLP delegate and grassroots support, the race is practically over for the Seaga succession.
Make a deal with Pearnel and Audley. Pearnel has tremendous appeal among the peasants and working class and is a master at grassroots communication. Audley is a consummate communicator, a brilliant rhetorician and a master of manipulating emotions. I would want him on my side in any campaign. Audley's skills in communication and his political astuteness is too prodigious and formidable to do without. The Golding faction should win him over. He would be a great asset to the Golding team. Audley Shaw is a master at rousing people's moral indignation and in sniffing out corruption or alleged corruption. He strikes a chord with many Jamaicans. He is needed in any propaganda campaign. And Pearnel can rally the troops and whip up excitement among the JLP faithful.
Incidentally, even Pearnel is to be commended for his restraint in public speech. He has been saying kind things about Eddie Seaga publicly and has been very respectful, whatever his private feelings, and is not taking on the media invitations to challenge Seaga at this time. Even Pearnel has learnt from the past.
Though some might question Seaga's motive for raising the issue of campaign finance in the internal party elections, it is an important issue. It is an open secret that Golding is the darling of Big Money and the Jamaican oligarchy. His constitutional reform system favours them as they would not have to dirty their hands with representational politics but would hold effective power in a selected rather than elected Cabinet. As one senior PNP person said to me, Golding's constitutional reforms would reinstitute the power of the ruling class and would effectively cut off the black masses from having direct control over those who run the country through the Cabinet. They would not be accountable to the Jamaican electorate. That persons connected with the Jamaica Observer newspaper were said to be such heavy financial backers of Golding when he returned to the party for the last election.
SWITCHED ALLEGIANCE
Big Money has clearly signalled to Seaga that they are not prepared to back him anymore but have switched allegiance to the winnable Bruce Golding. Some say Seaga is panicking. To have Big Money and Big Media arrayed against you is not a comfortable position to be in. There will be all kinds of pressures on Seaga to do like P. J. Patterson and give a timetable for departure. There are many who say he should never have the nerve to face another
general election.
But could an arrangement be made whereby Seaga would be allowed to run another election as a farewell gift to him (with the assumption that the party wins) while the party would give the signals that he would retire within months or a year of wining anyway, passing the baton to Golding? Many 'Labourites' might not be prepared to take that chance, having been out in the political wilderness for so long. But even if enough people are not prepared to give Seaga that Golden (no pun intended) handshake, what's the harm in allowing him another two years while the reformers put everything in place for succeeding him? They could win over some of his loyalists, teach some lessons in transition planning and demonstrate to the country that they have patience and generosity of spirit.
REFORMERS
Those who are insisting that Seaga must go now or indicate his timetable don't have full confidence in the reformers. If they did they would know that the reformers don't have to push Seaga or be ungracious to him to effectively steal power from him. Eddie Seaga himself will see, if he has not already, that the financial backing, media support and critical mass will not come to the party which he loves deeply and fervidly unless Golding succeeds him. Ken Baugh can't generate that support to give the JLP state power, nor can Derrick Smith or Ed Bartlett.
And Pearnel Charles and Audley Shaw have never been Seaga's favourites anyway. Does Eddie still believe there is no one able to succeed him at this stage?
Young Turks, keep a cool head.
Ian Boyne is a veteran
journalist. You can email him at ianboyne1@yahoo.com.
