Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor
Newly appointed Opposition Leader Bruce Golding receives a warm congratulatory hug from Dr. Denise Eldemire Shearer at Kings House, St. Andrew on April 21. - NORMAN GRINDLEY/DEPUTY CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
AFTER SOME eight or so years in political no-mans-land, Bruce Golding, the one time presumptive heir to the political throne of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), has found his way back home, and is now leader of the party he walked away from, and even more curiously, the elected Member of Parliament (MP) for the much maligned West Kingston constituency, once held by his mentor and former political benefactor The Most Honourable Edward Seaga.
A week in politics, they say, is a long time. Indeed, as who would have 'thunk' it? Bruce Golding, Leader of the Opposition JLP and MP for West Kingston? Well me-daahlings, another of those seeming clichés running quite true in these times is: Politics makes strange bedfellows.
Now mind you all, there are those who have always held the belief that notwithstanding his founding and leadership of the National Democratic Movement (NDM), and pronouncements which caused some to wonder if he had really had his fill of politics, Bruce Golding's and historical birthright would always see him not only returning to the party of his forebears but in all probability, become its leader, and so no bets were off or on!
To culminate what at times appeared as an internecine succession squabble, and the politics of mutually assured destruction, Bruce Golding not only trumped his political rivals, he also outflanked. Well if two weekends ago belonged to Prime Minister Patterson, then last weekend undoubtedly belonged to Bruce Golding.
VINTAGE GOLDING
Dears, a man of many firsts, two Thursday mornings ago, Bruce Golding was sworn in as Leader of the Opposition JLP, in a small investiture ceremony at Kings House by Governor-General Sir Howard Cooke. The ceremony was attended by close friends and political allies, in what was quite some ceremony.
And so Bruce Golding's investiture, as Leader of the Opposition, was followed later that same afternoon, with him being sworn in as Member of Parliament for West Kingston, in Parliament, to a packed gallery of political supporters and admires, the full complement of his JLP parliamentary colleagues, and a strong showing on the Government benches, for his inaugural presentation as Leader of the Opposition JLP.
Dears, it was vintage Golding, 'Seagaesque' even, in a reasoned presentation that not only spoke to the attendant perceived ills of the current administration, but also sought to offer solutions to what seems the nations intractable problems in managing its coffers, as well as providing a possibly new approach to the growing and frightening problems of escalating violence and criminal enterprise. Dears, indeed, it was Bruce at his non 'bangarangic' best, and then some.
To crown a truly momentous day however, both in the history of the JLP and the life of Bruce Golding and his family, his wife Lorna Golding, hosted an after budget/investiture reception on the grounds of their cosy upper St. Andrew residence, in the very upscale Millsborough neighbourhood, that was easily the Labour party's hottest shindig of the season.
WHAT A CELEBRATION!
Pumpkins, it was one helluva affaire as friends, admirers, well-wishers, and party supporters seemingly came out of the political woodwork, for this one. Oh-my-word, what a celebration! Dears, we are talking literally hundreds of people here guesting on the grounds of the Goldings' residence, done-up a la café style with marquees, tables and chairs with a giant-sized screen as its centrepiece broadcasting footage of the day's proceedings with the day's star, in full political flight.
Dears, with buffet aplenty and a mega-sized bar, and loads to discuss at a post budget presentation reception, y'all know we are talking one political do here and then some, as dears, every-which-way one looked, one saw the JLP establishment; past and present members of the upstart NDM; one-time disgruntled members of the JLP, as well as its very base here, including some previously thought politically and socially interred. And not to mention, some members of the former high-riding self-styled "reformist wing". Dovecakes, it all made for one very interesting outing!
And dears, it was like that an outing of former Labourites, current ones, their supporters, sympathisers, friends and associates like no other, and a smattering of members of the business community out for the coronation of Bruce Golding, and it made for one interesting caucus!
Truly it was Bruce Golding week!
SPOTTED
Those spotted included: Former Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition and Long-standing West Kingston MP, now Distinguished Fellow, Professor Edward Seaga, and his wife, Carla Seaga; Dr. Oswald and Marigold Harding; Enid Bennett; Grenada's High Commissioner Designate to Britain and Special Advisor to the Spice Island's PM, Joe Charter; Senators Anthony Johnson, Dorothy Lightbourne, Shirley Williams, Arthur Williams, Dwight Nelson, and Prudence Kidd-Deans; MPs Mike Henry, Derrick Smith, Audley Shaw, Pearnell Charles, Babsy Grange, Delroy Chuck, Shahine Robinson; Ruddy Spencer, Dr. Horace Chang; Ernie Smith; Clive Mullings, Ed Bartlett and his sibling Dr. St. Aubyn Bartlett, James Robertson and Verna Parchment; and Mayor Noel Donaldson of Montego Bay.
Also out were: Mandeville's Deputy Mayor Sally Porteous; JHTA head Godfrey Dyer; Supreme Ventures Paul Hoo; Geoffrey Messado; Howard Mitchell; Seragh and Effie Lakasingh; Ken and Elaine Chaplain; Cliff and Joan Stone and their son Christopher Stone; George Soutar; Dr. Christopher Tufton and wife Nadene Tufton, she looking fabulously pregnant with their third child; Dorothy Carter-Bradford; Robert Russell; Golaub Dukaran; Dr. Marjorie Vassell-Davidson; Tom Tavares-Finson; Joshua Higgins; Louis and Tamara Williams; Patrick Bailey; Mrs. Jane Crichton; Moxie Morrison; the charming Mrs. Maureen Shaw; Eme Usim; Richard and Marcia Forbes; Mr. and Mrs. Rocky Charles; Lambert Brown; Mrs. Rosemarie Pilliner; Laurie Broderick; Russell Hammond; Mrs. Hyacinth Bennett; Kenneth Rowe; Barry Chisholm; Pat Nelson; Bunny Pommels; Mrs. Fay Hutchinson; Oswald James; Michael Stern; Pat Reid; Kent Gammon; Don Creary; Enid Harrow; Daryl Vaz; Andrea English; Denise Williamson; Vernon Darby; and Olivia Marshall-Delaney; plus several scores more.
And dears, it was way into the night before it all ended, but it was one outing and then some!
