By Damion Mitchell, Staff ReporterTHE JAMAICA Teachers' Association (JTA) has decided to withhold the name of its 2005/06 president until the holding of its central executive meeting later this month, ahead of its annual general conference in August.
According to Dr. Adolph Cameron, the JTA's general secretary, the name of the new president was withheld because the counting of ballots was incomplete. On Wednesday he confirmed reports that some of the ballots were still not yet at the counting centre and said the number of votes for the top contenders was close.
Several key JTA sources had reported that St. Elizabeth's Ruel Reid was leading in the vote count with Clarendon's Cecelia Grant-Francis and David Brown being second and third, respectively.
CONCERNS AMONG MEMBERS
The other contenders are St. Thomas's Hopeton Henry and Patricia Brown, of Kingston and St. Andrew.
There are concerns among JTA members whether Michael Clarke, the JTA president- elect for 2004/05, will be able to assume the presidency in August because of current health problems.
Asked about this, Dr. Cameron described the situation as "very sensitive" and said it was "too early" to make any call, given that it was just over a month before the new administration takes office.
He said, however, that under the JTA's constitution, Wentworth Gabbidon, the current president, would be required to serve in that capacity for an additional year if the president-elect was unable to assume the position.
