Minott
Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer
THE JAMAICA Labour Party's (JLP) East Portland constituency, an area of concern since charges of vote-buying surfaced at the party's annual conference in November last year, is the focus this weekend of an "in-depth" probe by a team led by JLP General Secretary Karl Samuda.
Mr. Samuda told The Sunday Gleaner Thursday that the team was scheduled to be in East Portland over the Independence weekend. He said the objective was to monitor operations in the constituency's five councils then report its findings to the JLP's Standing Committee.
"We intend to meet with workers at each council and investigate the performance of the East Portland caretaker," said Mr. Samuda, who did not disclose the strength of his team nor name its members. He pointed out that the probe was not linked to a similar process being conducted by the JLP's Central Executive.
CENTRE OF CONTROVERSY
Dr. Dennis Minott, the JLP's caretaker candidate for East Portland, has been at the centre of controversy since he claimed in June that delegates from the constituency were bribed to vote for James Robertson in his Deputy Leader race against incumbent Olivia 'Babsy' Grange.
Miss Grange first made these charges after losing to Mr. Robertson in November. The claims were supported by JLP leader Edward Seaga. In June, Dr. Minott said Miss Grange's revelations were justified as investigations he conducted into the election found "massive" instances of bribery in his constituency.
Dr. Minott reported the matter to Political Ombudsman, Bishop Herro Blair, who eventually dropped the case as legally, he has no say on party matters.
Dr Minott's case is presently before the JLP's Disciplinary Committee.
REBEL COUNCILLOR CASE
Mr. Samuda said his team will also look into the much-publicised Parish Council standoff involving rebel councillor Benny White, another matter before the Disciplinary Committee. On July 15, Mr. White who represents the Fellowship division, sided with four PNP members to oust Parish Council Chairman Alston Hunter and his deputy Rupert Kelly.
Both Mr. Hunter and Mr. Kelly are JLP Councillors.
Mr. White was subsequently elected to replace Mr. Hunter with PNP Councillor Dexter Rowland as his deputy. But on July 19 Arthur Williams, a former Deputy General Secretary of the JLP, got a 14-day injunction from Chief Justice Lensley Wolfe blocking Mr. White from being sworn in.
"Mr. White's case is still before the court but he will be facing the party's disciplinary committee in a few weeks and will be given all opportunities to give his side of the story," said Mr. Samuda.
