By Damion Mitchell, Staff ReporterTHE JAMAICA Labour Party (JLP) yesterday elected a new slate of what the party describes as 'reformists' who will administer the affairs of 60-year-old political party in the next year, headed by chairman Bruce Golding.
The new executive, dubbed the 'higher level team', includes Percival Broderick as deputy chairman, and Karl Samuda, North Central St. Andrew Member of Parliament, as general secretary.
Dr. Ken Baugh, whom Samuda replaces, did not seek re-election.
Recognising that the image of the Opposition party has been affected by the blunders it suffered within recent weeks, Mr. Samuda said the new team would be fostering more party unity and confidence.
"The team is a good, vibrant one and under the leadership of the chairman we are going to be a very formidable force for the PNP," said the new general secretary.
"This leadership that has been elected now forms the basis for such a unity," he told reporters during an interview at the party's Belmont Road headquarters after the elections.
Samuda polled 90 votes to Edmund Bartlett's 49 and Arthur Williams' 10. The other nominee, Prudence Kidd-Deans, withdrew yesterday. Deputy chairman Broderick polled 90 votes to Dorothy Lightbourne's 54. Golding was unopposed. Just under 150 delegates voted.
The other members of the executive include a new slate of young deputy general secretaries: Joel Williams, Devon McDaniel, Aundre Franklin and Don Creary. Treasurer Chris Bovell and assistant treasurer Shirley Williams were unopposed.
"I am very happy with this team, it will be better for the party which will be more united at this time," Clarendon Member of Parliament Pearnel Charles told The Gleaner.
Charles, who now plans to become fully involved in the party, said: "I was longing for this team to be put in place, it is now in place and I am ready to move with it."
Mrs. Kidd-Deans said that the all-male executive was a strong team, but added that there was need for the party to train females to assume leadership positions.
And new deputy general secretary Creary said the party's supporters should allow the new slate to prove itself as a credible alternative to the government.
