PORT ANTONIO, Portland:
DELEGATES AT a meeting attended by Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) leadership candidate Bruce Golding refused to allow his contender Pearnel Charles to address them on Friday night.
Mr. Golding, who had earlier toured some communities in eastern and western Portland, was about to address the 67 delegates at Shadow's Lounge in Port Antonio when Mr. Charles arrived and requested that he be allowed to speak. The delegates objected, stating that they had attended the meeting to hear from Mr. Golding.
CENTRE OF CONTROVERSY
Within the last year, the East Portland constituency has been at the centre of controversy. In the first instance, Dr. Dennis Minott, JLP caretaker for the constituency, had complained that dirty money was involved in at least one of the campaigns in last year's deputy leader election.
And more recently, Benny White, JLP Councillor for the Fellowship division, sided with four People's National Party Councillors to unseat the Port Antonio Mayor Alston Hunter. The matter is still before the court.
Meanwhile, Mr. Golding told delegates at Friday's meeting that there was no longer a rift between the so-called reformist and traditionalist wing of the party.
"There have been verbal clashes from time to time between both groups", noted Mr. Golding. "Incidents like those have threatened on more than one occasion to disrupt the unity and progress of the JLP. I am happy to say, however, that all differences have been resolved."
He added that the image and the future of the JLP were more important at this time than entertaining internal conflict. He said the will of the delegates must be observed, regardless of the outcome of the November 6 leadership election.
"If any are unprepared to accept the will of the delegates, in November, then the rebuilding process would have failed," said Mr. Golding.
In the meantime the JLP at its Central Executive meeting on Sunday passed a resolution indicating its satisfaction with the process through which delegates were elected for the party's upcoming annual general conference where the new party leader will be elected.
