By Delroy Chuck THE STOPPING of the JLP's Annual All-Island Conference slated for November 6 and 7 was a savage blow to the party. The ex parte injunction successfully obtained by Pearnel Charles and his campaign team has inflicted monumental damage and brought the spirit, unity and hopes of party supporters to new lows. Whether irreparable harm has been done to this great Jamaican institution will be determined over the next few weeks or months.
The constant public squabbling of the JLP is an utter disgrace. To Labourites around the country, the past weekend was one of their darkest moments. The dates of the All-Island Conference were planned from March this year and, in spite of Hurricane Ivan, the party was anxious to have its conference. Many delegates put off trips, engagements and events to attend the annual gathering of hardcore, committed, party workers. Supporters came from abroad and have returned disappointed and distressed.
SUPPORTERS VERY HURT
It will be difficult for Labourites to forgive those who, supporters believe, seek to serve their personal agenda instead of putting the country's and party's interests first. In preparation for this aborted conference, the most scrupulous assessment and precaution were undertaken to put together constituency delegates, as everyone knew the third leader of the JLP would be duly elected. For many months, constituencies were instructed to have divisional and constituency conferences, choose executives and, finally, to have the constituency executives meet and elect the delegates to the annual conference. I cannot speak for every constituency but verily believe that the vast majority, perhaps all, spent huge sums of money to carry out the party's instructions and to choose delegates in compliance with the party's constitution.
Many of us are therefore hurt, very hurt, when it is alleged, scandalously alleged, that our delegates' lists are rigged. This year's delegates' list was probably the best the JLP has ever assembled. In any democratic institution, vibrant and vigorous debate is quite healthy. Inside the JLP, I can report that a variety of opinions, views and ideas are aired and discussed. The party is not dead, or even dying; it is alive with a free flow of engaging debates. At times, passionate discourses engage our meetings for hours and, admittedly, persons feel their points of view should gain ascendancy. I find the conflict of ideas, the battle of opinions and the open and transparent disputes are all part and parcel of a healthy democratic process.
DIRTY LAUNDRY IN PUBLIC PLACES
Where we go wrong is to take our disagreements and unseemly squabbles into the public arena. It is simply downright treacherous that matters debated internally should be leaked to the press and the perception delivered that the party is in constant turmoil. In fact, even with the ex parte injunction and the party's business being delayed in court, Pearnel Charles and his campaign team are still at party headquarters at Belmont Road in discussion with the party's Standing Committee, sitting around the same table, airing their points of view. Obviously, the party's business cannot be delayed forever. The damage has already been done. The challenge is how to bring about a speedy end to the court action so the party can get a fresh start and begin to recover.
In truth, the election of a new leader will be a fresh start. From the present crisis, there are enormous opportunities to chart a new course and to remake and lift the image of the JLP. From my vantage point, Bruce Golding will be the new leader and the sooner he is elected and given the authority to extricate the party from its predicament, the sooner a new JLP will emerge. What the present ex parte injunction has done is to strengthen Bruce Golding's image among hardcore, committed, Labourites who are now galvanised around his leadership.
Many Labourites who have had doubts about Bruce Golding now see him as the man to lead the party to the promised land. Labourites are now clamouring for their annual conference, which they believe has been unfairly blocked. Even Pearnel Charles and his campaign team must realise that, to the vast majority of supporters, they are in a lose-lose situation and their action can only bring the party into further decline and disrepute. It is time for the party to turn around and move forward.
Delroy Chuck is an attorney-at-law
and Opposition Member of Parliament. He can be contacted by email at Delchuck@hotmail.com
