EDWARD SEAGA, by way of a press release yesterday afternoon, signalled his intention to step down as leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) at its annual conference in November this year.
The announcement, coming as it did, after prolonged, internal squabbling and a widening rift among JLP members, suggests that the irascible Mr. Seaga, who has shown great capacity to dig in his heels, rally his forces and take on his opponents directly, was finally forced by circumstances to call it quits.
In a sense the writing was on the wall. Whatever the truth of his humorous claims to vim, vigour and vitality, the laws of nature would indicate that the 74-year-old Mr. Seaga would eventually become battle-weary, reaching the point of taking on one more fight too many. Clearly the younger, hungry elements were determined to pry his fingers from the JLP throne, beyond whatever leisurely timetable he may have had for his departure as leader and ultimately from active politics.
The 'bloodletting' has damaged the party significantly and denied the Jamaican public of the full focus of an Opposition party keeping watch on the Government and its failings.
But despite his announcement yesterday, it may well be too early to write Mr. Seaga's political obituary. Mr. Seaga, who has undoubtedly given outstanding public service to Jamaica for more than 40 years as Prime Minister, Member of Parliament and as Minister of Finance, may yet be able to make significant contributions to Jamaica's public life rather than simply fading into the background. His contribution to the development of Jamaica cannot be easily denied.
At the same time, Mr. Seaga's decision to step down offers the JLP an opportunity to regroup, settle on issues of principle to guide the party and move beyond personal recriminations based on who is perceived to be in which camp. Much of the JLP's troubles over the years have been personality-driven conflicts rather than struggles over issues of principle, vision and direction.
Those who push the argument that removing Edward Seaga as leader, whatever his failings, will by itself make the JLP an attractive alternative to forming the Government, underestimate the intelligence of the Jamaican electorate.
If the party fails to address these challenges quickly and sensibly, and move to offer a credible set of alternative policies, its journeys through the political wilderness will be far from over.
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