By Earl Moxam, Gleaner WriterAUDLEY SHAW, Deputy Leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), has told all contenders for the post of leader of the party to back off until the incumbent, 74-year-old Edward Seaga, steps down.
At the same time Mr. Shaw, who is also chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, has shown every indication that he intends to run for the leadership of the party, "when the time is right".
WHISPERS IN PARTY CIRCLES
In recent weeks there have been whispers in party circles that, with Mr. Seaga giving no indication of a timetable for his retirement, someone should force the issue by challenging him for the Leadership of the JLP, at the upcoming Annual Conference in November.
"I would suggest that they back off! Because it will not be good for the JLP and it will not be good for democracy in Jamaica," Mr. Shaw told The Gleaner in a recent interview. "What it will do is to plunge this party into a situation where it will severely compromise our ability to win the next general election."
But, according to Mr. Shaw, when the time is right, he will run for the position of party leader. The JLP deputy leader further argued that Mr. Seaga had given exceptional service to the party and country over the past 45 years, as a result of which "we have a duty and obligation to respect (him) his leadership and his wisdom to decide when is the right time to leave".
Mr. Shaw, Member of Parlia-ment for North East Manchester since 1993, claims he will only seek the JLP leadership if he is convinced of the support of a sufficient number of delegates.
"When the time comes I will ask the question of the delegates: Do you want me to consider running for the leadership of the party? And I will await the verdict of the delegates of the Jamaica Labour Party. That will be the basis of my decision; not some relentless pursuit of a personal ambition to achieve power!"
Regarding the presumed front-runner for the JLP leadership, Bruce Golding, Mr. Shaw mixes praise with pointed criticism.
GOOD CONTRIBUTION
"I think he has a fine mind and I think that he has a good contribution to make to nation building and is an asset to the party and the country," he said of Mr. Golding, who returned to the JLP two years ago after the National Democratic Movement he founded lost political viability.
He was less effusive when asked whether Mr. Golding was the right man for the job of JLP leader. "I really feel that, over time, people must be judged by their willingness to be measured in their responses. I think that I have been measured in my responses; I have been conservative where I have to be; loyal and faithful where I have to be. I have resisted the temptation to run off on excursions. I have sought to stay, keep my shoulders to the wheel and keep the party together," he declared.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Excerpts from Earl Moxam's interview with Mr. Shaw will be published in The Sunday Gleaner.
