Omar Anderson and Robert Hart, Gleaner Reporters 
GOLDING AND CHARLES
AS NORMAN Horne, the new Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) South East St. Elizabeth caretaker tries to make inroads in that constituency, a number of prominent figures there have thrown their support behind leadership contender Bruce Golding.
Mr. Horne, a JLP senator, confirmed yesterday he was playing a significant role in the campaign of Pearnel Charles, the other leadership contender.
Yesterday, Mayor of Black River Franklyn Witter
told The Gleaner he was supporting Mr. Golding, the party chairman, who he thinks would command more support from the electorate.
TWO GOOD
CANDIDATES
"I believe both are two good candidates to lead the Labour Party and a next JLP government, but I believe Bruce Golding would have the edge in getting the national support," he said.
Nonetheless, Mr. Witter said the South East St. Elizabeth
constituency executive still
supported Mr. Horne as caretaker.
Shirley Myers, deputy mayor of Black River, said he has also thrown his 'absolute' support behind Mr. Golding.
"He (Horne) goes his way, I go my way," he said, confirming his support. According to Myers, Mr. Charles was a 'nice man' but forfeited his chance years ago to become JLP leader.
"Mr. Golding is the right man," said Mr. Myers. "He has the quality you look for in a leader."
Meanwhile, reports reaching The Gleaner are that at least two other persons on the South East St. Elizabeth executive are
supporting the Golding campaign.
In August, Mr. Horne defeated Jeremy Palmer
during an internal JLP election, to become the party's constituency caretaker. Mr. Horne replaced Mr. Witter, who resigned.
NO TURMOIL
Contacted yesterday, Mr. Horne said members of his
constituency's executive hold the right to vote for whomever they chose. He, however, added that he did not expect any turmoil in the constituency due to the differing internal party affiliations.
"If he (Golding) does win, he would have my full support, but I'm confident Mr. Charles will be the next leader of the JLP," he stated.
In the meantime, the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) has received the list of delegates slated to vote at the upcoming JLP annual conference next month.
Karl Samuda, JLP general secretary, confirmed yesterday that the list of 4,428 names was sent to the EOJ just hours earlier and is expected to be returned to the party's secretariat on Monday.
"The reason it can be returned so quickly is because we have done so much work to ensure that we gave them a clean list," Mr. Samuda told The Gleaner. He noted, however, that fewer than 100 names have not yet been passed over to the EOJ.
