By George Henry, Gleaner WriterSPALDINGS, Clarendon:
MEMBER OF Parliament for North Central Clarendon, Pearnel Charles, said his appointment as an emissary for Opposition Leader Edward Seaga to monitor activities in the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Area Councils was done with the party's best interest at heart.
Speaking to reporters following a meeting of the party's Area Council Three at the Spaldings High School on Sunday, Mr. Charles said that since his appointment, persons, especially in political circles, have been saying that himself and Mike Henry were appointed by Mr. Seaga to play the role of spies in the party.
In refuting the argument, Mr. Charles said he could not have been appointed by the JLP leader to spy on party members.
He made it clear that as a member of the JLP, he would be willing to do anything to help build and organise the party in the field. Mr. Charles said his colleagues in the party were not involved in anything which would merit them being spied on, and that those who continue to spread misleading information are "minds that need assistance."
"The only thing party leader Edward Seaga could ask me to do is to assist him with what has been in line with his responsibilities as leader," Mr. Charles said. "I would not accept any job as a spy and the party leader would never have made any such appointment."
Mr. Charles explained that his new role was simply to assist with activities in the field, noting that the intent was simply to make the JLP a stronger organisation on the ground.
"There will be no information on personality or personal problems of anybody...that's not my job," Mr. Charles added. "Any work that I am assisting with will be work to build the organisation of the JLP."
SPECIAL DUTY
According to Mr. Charles his new role in the party falls in line with (Item 9) of the memorandum in the party's constitution which says "the leader may request any member of the party and assign him to any special duty on behalf of the party."
Mr. Charles also added that "Any duty that the Opposition Leader should ask me to perform which is not in conformity with Item 9 of the memorandum, would not be accepted by me."
Mr. Charles, who is also chairman for Area Council Three, said Sunday's meeting was about the JLP setting out strategies regarding enumeration, registration of constituencies, assistance to caretakers, particularly councillor/caretakers, as well as with regards to how the JLP will be mobilising themselves in the field. He noted that the JLP is united and that the party's focus is geared towards defeating the current administration at the polls.
