Garwin Davis, Assistant News Editor
AUDLEY SHAW, the North East Manchester, Member of Parliament, has said any decision by him to run for the leadership position of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), would be based on extensive consultations with the leaders, delegates and rank and file members of the party.
"I feel God has guided in all that I have done and will do. I am comfortable with this. My future is secure with the knowledge that I submit it to God's will and also with the wishes of the delegates. If I am ever called on to lead the party, I will respond and do so on the principle of broad consultation and consensus building, around a set of practical solutions that can rapidly accelerate Jamaica's economic development with one simple aim in view for Jamaicans to achieve peace and prosperity right here at home," he told The Sunday Gleaner.
How then would he describe his flip-flop two weeks ago when one day he was insistent that he would maintain his challenge to Bruce Golding in the race for party chairman then deciding to back out at the 11th hour? Did he fear losing or was he worried that a loss to Mr. Golding would kill whatever leadership aspirations he may harbour?
COUNTRY, PARTY
"As I have said repeatedly, Audley Shaw is a man who puts country and party before personal goals," he said. "This is my approach to public life and I make no apologies about it. When I am called on to serve, I put my heart and soul into serving the people. Nobody has a God-given right to anything and to any position. We play our roles in life where time and destiny are our masters...the ultimate master is God Almighty. Look, the moment I realised that the challenge to Mr. Golding would create a media frenzy...the kind the party can do without right now...I opted out."
What about those though who still maintain that he had no chance of beating Golding...that he was in a no-win situation?
"Then I would say those persons certainly know how to read minds," Mr. Shaw retorted.
"The delegates would have decided the outcome of that race and don't think for a minute that I do not enjoy my fair of support... like Mr. Golding, I also fancied my chances. It was simply not the right time for such a contest to take place, especially at a time when the party could ill-afford any more negative press."
Mr. Golding was elected un-opposed as JLP chairman last week.
Asked about his relationship with Mr. Golding and whether he felt any way slighted by all the attention the new chairman has been receiving especially among Labourites and despite having abandoned the JLP over seven years ago to form the now struggling National Democratic Movement (NDM) Mr. Shaw said "No... not at all. "I have a lot of respect for Mr. Golding. He has a fine mind and has a lot to contribute to this country... I was one of the first to have welcomed him back to the fold of the JLP and also to the mainstream of Jamaican politics. I was very supportive of his return to the party last year... that has been well-documented."
But are there any differences between the two ideological or otherwise? "There are many and varied cries for changes in our political system, including from Mr. Golding, and for radical changes to the Constitution of Ja-maica," Mr. Shaw said. "These calls carry the presupposition that it is a faulty Constitution and a bad political system that are the primary causes of the many social and economic problems that we face today. Here, I wish to part company with any chorus for wholesale or radical changes to our Constitution on the premise that this will result in magical solutions to all our problems."
PROPOSALS
He continued: "To be sure, the Opposition has made a number of proposals for constitutional and parliamentary reforms that will have far-reaching impact on oversight duties of Parliament and entrench the rights and freedoms of our citizens, as well as bring public officials to book for negligence, dereliction of duty and corruption. I however make no apologies in saying that I will not be a part of using the inadequacies of our constitutional arrangements as a scapegoat and a red herring to cover up the fact that this Government has so grossly mismanaged this country over the past 14 years, that our potential, our initiative, our enterprise and our equity have been destroyed. We need leaders in politics and Government who understand that good Government means clearing the roadblocks to opportunity, to risk-taking, to hard work and to wealth creation."
And his reputation for having the knack for uncovering Government scandals? "We need sincere men and women in public life who are prepared to put service above self and put their hearts and souls into creating good Government that can foster the environment for peace and prosperity in our blessed country. In good times and in bad times, I have never wavered from this principle and whatever task has been assigned to me I have sought to do it with diligence, fearlessness, hard work and efficiency," Mr. Shaw said.
'WATERBOY' LABEL
And what of the 'waterboy' label... does he see it now as a political liability?
"My role model in politics is unquestionably our leader Edward Seaga," he said. "Mr. Seaga has a capacity to focus on problem-solving with such intensity and energy that it inspires some and intimidates others. History will be obliged to be kind to him because he has left an indelible mark of good governance and institution-building on Jamaica in his capacities as Minister of Develop-ment and Welfare, Minister of Finance and Planning, leader of the Opposition and as Prime Minister of Jamaica. I feel honoured and privileged to have worked with this great Jamaican icon over the years and I wish him long life, good health and strength to continue to make his contribution to nation- building."
