D.K. Duncan "Mr. Seaga said that whilst the information was not complete, Mr. Robertson was able to satisfy him that his sources of funding were genuine." This statement formed part of a short, terse release to the media last Friday evening from the office of the Leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP). Considering the nature of the charges publicly made by Mr. Seaga against the Robertson campaign team, this response is inadequate. It may have been necessary but it is definitely not sufficient.
In a discussion on Hot 102's Breakfast Club just one day before, Mr. Seaga was confident that illegal money had been obtained and used by the Robertson team in the campaign for one of the four posts of Deputy Leader of the JLP. In the context of these allegations, Mr. Seaga said "...I happen to know some of what is going on-.(I) want the list to check to see if it is more of what I know." When pressed he asserted: "I have more than a suspicion."
APOLOGIES
In light of Friday's statement, Mr. Seaga should unreservedly and immediately apologise to James Robertson, Daryl Vaz and their finance committee. Mr. Seaga also has a duty to give a written statement to the police investigators so that their names can be cleared of these allegations of criminal activities.
When one recalls the nature of his intervention immediately before the internal elections, the leader of the JLP also has a responsibility to apologise to all the delegates who participated in those elections.
Mr. Seaga also needs to publicly censure those persons who were the source of his misinformation. This kind of information must have come from the most reliable and trusted sources for it to be the basis of such unequivocal pronouncements by the Leader of the Party.
Friday's statement demonstrates that the actions of the Party Leader resulted in a grave injustice which, to be most generous, arose from a mad rush to judgement.
EXPLANATION
The JLP leader also owes the country an explanation if not an apology. His recent actions only serve to confirm the opinions of the sceptics and the cynics that all the talk of change in leadership style and content has been cheap. The rest of us are left to wonder.
Prior to this conference, the JLP's Chairman Ryan Peralto had invited the party supporters to be on their best behaviour as the eyes of Jamaica were on them. It seemed that the Chairman's request should have been addressed to former Deputy Leader Grange and the Leader himself.
To regain lost ground, Mr Seaga has a tremendous task. History is not on his side.
SOME HISTORY
Writing in The Gleaner of March 18, 1995 the late Carl Wint observed:
"...now we know that certainly within the JLP, if the leader wants to stamp his dominance he must kick the butts of his lieutenants publicly for all to see. He must not spare their feelings."
The Sunday Herald of March 26, 1995, reported a speech by then PNP MP Peter Bunting, which likened Opposition Leader Edward Seaga to a frog placed in cold water being brought to a boil but who cannot sense the fact that the environment (i.e. the temperature) is changing around it.
Talk show host, Wilmot Perkins, in the same issue of The Herald wrote:
"The Labour Party, under Mr. Seaga's leadership, self destructed at the Arena in 1992. That was the culmination of the Gang of Five affair. The problem with that affair was not that it occurred but how it was handled; and primarily how it was handled by Mr. Seaga. The country found the experience repellent; and the Labour Party in the result contrived against all odds to lose the following elections which led to the view that it was improbable that Mr. Seaga could ever again gain confidence of the country enough to lead the Labour Party to election victory.
That is no longer improbable. It is as certain as these things can ever be in politics. Mr. Seaga himself made sure of that last week (mid-March, 1995). The Seaga autocracy is dead."
The quality of leadership that Mr. Seaga provides in the process of transition, succession and change can still positively influence the kind of legacy he leaves. One Love, One Heart.
A dental surgeon, Dr. D.K. Duncan, is a former General Secretary and Cabinet Minister in the PNP Administration of the 1970s.
