Golding
Gareth Davis, Gleaner Writer
PORTLAND:
ONLY A week after assuming the role as leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), Bruce Golding, in his first public address, reassured party supporters, at the West Portland constituency conference on Sunday, that the first hurdle has been conquered.
The JLP leader thanked party members for their support. But while bells were ringing and shouts of "Bruce, our next prime minister" could be heard, Mr. Golding told the hundreds of supporters, who turned out at the Buff Bay Primary School on Sunday, that a restructuring exercise will be carried out to provide high-quality representation within the JLP.
STANDING COMMITTEE
"The central executive will be meeting next week Sunday to select the remaining officers to complete the officer's structure of the party," Mr. Golding said. "We are also going to reconstitute the standing committee of the party. We are going to complete the structure on the team that will take this party into the next election and into council."
Mr. Golding was making reference to the local government election which, under the constitution, is due next year. He said that the candidates who will be vying for office within the JLP are persons with proven track records and integrity.
SUFFERING
"Party members need to stop fighting each other," he said. "We are going to use that ability to denounce the suffering that the people are experiencing under the PNP."
While Mr. Golding was advocating that peace be maintained within the JLP, he had strong words for those who had violated the party's constitution. He said JLP party officials, who form any alliance with the PNP to undermine and discredit the efforts of their colleagues, commit wrongs which cannot be forgiven.
"I know there are discrepancies within the parish council here in Portland. There are boundaries to what is accepted and what is not accepted," he said. "There is a threshold of behaviour pattern that is being laid down, and if problems arise it is time for discussion within the party."
