By Garwin Davis, Assistant News EditorANOTHER RIFT appears to be brewing within the ranks of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) following what some see as Opposition Leader Edward Seaga's subtle 'dissing' of the party's deputy leaders on Monday.
According to JLP sources, Mr. Seaga, at Monday's Standing Committee meeting at the party's Belmont Road headquarters, said he was not happy with the treatment being meted out to him at Area Council meetings and would be appointing his own personal emissaries to correct the situation.
"He made it clear that he was being sidelined and in some cases, disrespected at these meetings," one JLP official told The Gleaner yesterday. "He has charged Pearnel Charles and Mike Henry formerly two of his harshest critics and arch rivals with the responsibility of reporting back to him on the ins and outs of the Area Councils. He made it known that he was still the person in charge and would not allow himself or the party to be hijacked by the whims and fancies of the so-called new group of reformists. It was Edward Seaga at his fighting best."
The source noted that Mr. Seaga also scored an important victory in getting the party to support his desire to chair the JLP's Selection Committee, over JLP chairman Bruce Golding.
In previous Gleaner interviews, Mr. Seaga explained that his only desire was to create 'a level playing field' where candidates seeking to represent the party at the constituency level will be chosen on merit rather than personal affiliation.
JLP officials, while making it clear that they would not engage in any verbal sparring at least publicly with the party leader, questioned the roles that would be played by both Charles and Henry.
"We need to clarify what it is that he wants them to do," notes Dr. Horace Chang, JLP Deputy Leader in charge of Area Council Four, comprising the western parishes. "I know my brief as Deputy Leader and I have done what the delegates have elected me to do. I don't believe Mr. Charles and Mr. Henry are being brought in to oversee or monitor my work... I can' see that. I was elected by the delegates in Area Council Four and I have been given a job to do without interference... I intend to fulfill my mandate."
Party General Secretary Karl Samuda was even more diplomatic. "In any viable organisation you will have contending views," he said. "Whether it is the Church or a social club you will find people having differing opinions. The JLP is no different. I can tell you this... the JLP today is as democratic as I have ever seen it and anybody at any given time can express his/her view as freely and without fear of reprisal. If you want to describe having a strident attitude as a rift then so be it."
Asked whether Mr. Seaga by appointing his two emissaries to report to him on what was happening on the ground - wasn't in fact indicting the current JLP hierarchy, Mr. Samuda said: "The leader of the party under the constitution has the power and the authority to appoint whoever he sees fit to act on his behalf... he has that right."
Mr. Samuda added: "As General Secretary of the party I will not allow myself to be distracted by anything... I will not be deterred in carrying out my duties to this organisation."
Added James Robertson, another of the JLP's Deputy Leaders, "I can't comment on the actions of Mr. Seaga... that is something you have to ask him. What I can tell you is that we are on the ground... from classroom to classroom... meeting with the people. We have an election to win in a couple of years and we wont be distracted."
Calls to Mr. Charles and Mr. Henry were not returned.
