By Omar Anderson and Barbara Gayle, Gleaner Reporters 
Golding (left) and Charles (right)
JUST WHEN it seemed that the bickering within the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) was over, it now appears that the party is still miles away in deciding who will succeed Edward Seaga as leader.
The Gleaner understands that members of the Bruce Golding camp are unhappy with the terms of an agreement reached earlier this week between leadership contender Pearnel Charles and General Secretary Karl Samuda.
The discontent also comes in the face of today's expected withdrawal of a lawsuit Mr. Charles filed in the Supreme Court, that led to the cancellation of the JLP annual conference which should have been held on November 6 and 7.
But up to last night, members of the JLP were locked in an emergency Standing Committee meeting called by Mr. Golding, the party chairman. The meeting was to discuss the details of the agreement that will see sweeping changes being made to the JLP's constitution.
SELECTION OF DELEGATES
The changes will also significantly affect the selection of delegates and the composition of the party's voters list that is vital to the filling of key party posts.
Contacted yesterday, Dr. Horace Chang, campaign manager for Mr. Golding, told The Gleaner he was unable to comment as the agreement was up for discussion at the meeting.
"Since they've withdrawn the suit, that's a welcomed move on Mr. Charles' part," he said.
But several party insiders are contending that Mr. Samuda did not have the authority to broker an agreement with Mr. Charles, saying he first needed to have had the blessing of the standing committee.
But in defence of Mr. Samuda, other party insiders countered that he was authorised to negotiate especially because he was one of the defendants named in Mr. Charles' suit. The others are Mr. Golding, and party leader Edward Seaga.
Contacted yesterday, Mr. Samuda told The Gleaner that despite being a defendant in the suit, he did not unilaterally broker the agreement with Mr. Charles.
"Everything I've done has been within the framework of the Standing Committee and the Central Executive," he said, adding that he has a right to do so as general secretary.
"I only act on the basis of what has been agreed within these governing bodies," he said.
Noting that he was unable to give detailed comment on the terms of the agreement, the JLP general secretary said they were fundamental to the development of the party. He added that the terms remove "all ambiguities from the groups from which delegates can be chosen".
"So no question can be left unanswered as to who qualifies to be a delegate and the basis on which they are elected," said Mr. Samuda.
Meanwhile, Mr. Charles, in an application to the court yesterday to discontinue the motion, said he had agreed to withdraw the suit because of proposed changes to the JLP constitution and undertakings from Mr. Samuda in that regards.
Mr. Charles disclosed that since he filed the suit, there had been discussions with the JLP's Central Executive to settle the impasse.
He said he decided to abort the suit because the Central Executive agreed to make changes to the party's constitution concerning constituency organisations and the election of delegates.
Mr. Charles wrote the court that based on the understanding and undertaking given to him by Mr. Samuda, "we have agreed to discontinue the action with no order as to costs".
