By Garwin Davis, Assistant News Editor
DECLARING THAT the party today is as organised as at any time in its 60-year-old history, a number of the new reformers of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) said they would be ready to contest an election at any time with or without Edward Seaga as party leader.
Flanked by his four deputies and addressing a Gleaner Editors' Forum at the company's North Street, downtown Kingston headquarters yesterday, newly-elected general secretary Karl Samuda said, "so structured is the party today" from the grassroots level to the very top that "we would be ready if elections were called within the next three months."
"The strengthening of the JLP is based on teamwork... where the team takes precedence over individual personalities," said Mr. Samuda.
"Look at what we bring to the table today. We have a successful blend of youth and experience. I am talking about bright young men who are committed to the cause... who know what sleepless nights are all about. There is not one failure sitting around this table."
NO PROBLEM WITH SEAGA
He insisted that if an election were called within the next three months, the JLP would be more than ready. The new executive members, who are being called 'reformists', also indicated that they have no problems working with the current leader, Edward Seaga.
"The leader is and will be determined by the wishes of the delegates," explained Andre Franklyn, one of the four deputy general secretaries who, along with Mr. Samuda, were elected to office last Sunday at the JLP's Belmont Road headquarters in St. Andrew. "Until the delegates say otherwise, Mr. Seaga will continue to enjoy our support."
"It is important to point out that the work we are doing now is neither leader-specific or leader-central," said Don Creary, another of the deputies. "Based on what we are doing on the ground, at the grassroot and community levels, if Mr. Seaga is the leader, he will benefit. If it is somebody else, that person will benefit also. We are an organisation that works as a team and that will be our focus."
Over the past several weeks, the JLP has been undergoing structural and organisational changes, resulting in a new and younger group of party officials emerging in internal elections.
Chief among the casualties were two of Mr. Seaga's staunchest supporters - Olivia 'Babsy' Grange and Edmund Bartlett who lost their deputy leadership positions, against the wishes of Mr. Seaga.
The emerging reformist wing of the party was further strengthened last Sunday by the crowning of Bruce Golding the perceived successor to Seaga as party chairman.
RIGHT TO BE RESPECTED
But for Mr. Samuda, regardless of the changes, Mr. Seaga has earned the right to be respected and supported by the membership of the party. "He has earned that right and as long as I am general secretary, nobody within the party will engage in anything that will disrespect Mr. Seaga," he said.
The reformists also say that they have Mr. Seaga's support.
"If you listened to what Mr. Seaga had to say on Sunday, you will understand that he is fully behind this team," said James Robertson, the deputy leader for the JLP's Area Council Two.
"The leader wants us to go out in the field... has given us permission to use his name in what he knows is being done to help the JLP. We have no problem with Mr. Seaga as leader."
Mr. Samuda noted that the democratic framework within the JLP is further strengthened by what he said is a new breed of delegates.
"The delegates we have are young, bright and independent of mind," Mr. Samuda said. "Look at what has been happening in our internal elections. No one, including Mr. Seaga, has any control over the behaviour of the delegates. To win today in the JLP you have to work very hard... you have to give the delegates a reason why they should vote for you."
