Foster Livid over comments made against him by James Robertson, philanthropist Gary Foster has offered to contest, on behalf of the People's National Party (PNP), the Western St. Thomas seat currently held by the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) deputy leader. "I pledge my life to fight with every ounce of my body to make sure that James Robertson doesn't retain his seat," Mr. Foster told The Gleaner yesterday.
He was reacting to the Opposition member naming him in Parliament on Tuesday night as the "friend" to whom the Government intends to sell the former Goodyear factory, located near Morant Bay in western St. Thomas, implying that his connections would smooth the deal. Foster acknowledged being a friend of Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and having bid for the property which, he said, he will use for his charity, Upliftment Jamaica Foundation, which is also based in the constituency.
Speaking from New York where he works as vice-president of entertainment company Rush Communications, Mr. Foster said he would fly home to White Horses, St. Thomas, today, to pursue the matter; either in support of current PNP candidate Rosemary Shaw or to stand himself if asked by the party.
"It's a personal attack. The truth is, that constituency lacks representation - no ifs, no buts, that Member of Parliament does nothing for that constituency. I said that when Anthony Hylton was representing it (for the PNP) and I supported James Robertson then," said Mr. Foster, who distanced himself from party politics after having been described as a 'PNP fundraiser' by the Opposition.
He expressed surprise at Mr. Robertson's comments, claiming the JLP MP had known of his interest in the factory for several years but had not opposed it. Rather he said, the MP wanted to see him off as a perceived political threat.
"Members of the JLP there are gravitating towards me as a person that is doing work that the Government and the MP should be doing, at my own expense," he said.
During Tuesday's sitting of Parliament's Standing Finance Committee, Mr. Robertson questioned whether Mr. Foster had consulted the community over the project, to which Commerce Minister Phillip Paulwell replied he had not. However Mr. Paulwell said the bid had met the requirements of Government.
Mr. Robertson's comments came after his Opposition colleague, Karl Samuda, named Mr. Foster while suggesting that the bid for the factory was from someone "connected" to the PNP or who was a financial contributor to the party.
Mr. Paulwell denied knowledge of any such connection, but reiterated that this was a bid made in response to a public advertisement, and that it was the only response to the ad.
The Commerce Minister confirmed Mr. Foster was a principal of the company being considered but denied the connection being made by the Opposition.
"If this Government and this minister have any intention of selling that valuable real estate to a person engaged in fund raising activities for the People's National Party, forget it! We are not allowing Jamaican soil to be sold to friends of this Government, anymore!" Mr. Samuda thundered, to loud applause from his side of the chamber and derision from the Government side.
Mr. Foster, a native of White Horses, told The Gleaner yesterday that the planned development included projects to raise funds for Upliftment Jamaica, including planned partnerships with a U.S.-based call centre company and an educational institution. The charity, which enjoys sponsorship from many of Mr. Foster's contacts in the entertainment world, is involved in community development and cultural, leisure and sporting activities.
The factory has been unused since it was closed in the mid-1990s as uncompetitive. However Government, led by then MP Anthony Hylton, purchased it in 1999 hoping to entice call centre businesses to establish there and provide jobs and economic development for the area.
But the proposed 'technology village' failed to attract business, despite over $150 million of state investment.
