BUFF BAY, Portland – Opposition Spokesman on Finance Audley Shaw says that he will formally announce his challenge for leadership of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Sunday night in a national broadcast, instead of Thursday as was previously announced.

“I said at a meeting last night (Sunday) that I would make my announcement on Thursday and the first thing I want to do tonight is to make a slight correction to that. We have decided that the announcement will be made in the form of a nationally televised and radio broadcast on Sunday night,” Shaw told JLP supporters at Lynch Park, Buff Bay Portland at a West Portland consultation Monday evening.

“I will be addressing the entire nation on Sunday night, I will be addressing members and supporters of the Jamaica Labour Party but because we are dealing with Bustamante Labour Party we are dealing with the alternative government of Jamaica, we are dealing with a government that every time we have been in power we run the country properly, I will also be addressing all of the people of Jamaica,” he stated.

Meanwhile as the JLP leadership tussle heats up, West Portland Member of Parliament Daryl Vaz, Monday declared his support for Shaw “as he is the most winnable candidate and his delegates have the right to vote for the candidate of their choice”.

“Labourites I have been pushed by the media to say who I am supporting and I told them that the media don’t dictate my time. I am more than concerned that my name and others are been called on other platforms and not in a complimentary manner,” Vaz said at the Lynch Park meeting.

“My delegates are open to listen to all contenders because until nomination closes we don’t know if it is one two or three candidates. I have my personal choice and I will say it openly in the midst of my family that I will support Audley Shaw. You have your own future, your own mind, your own choice,” he added.

“I have nothing bad to say about my current leader or anybody who is supporting him because everybody has the right to decide their own destiny.  We must continue to conduct ourselves in a way that when this exercise is finished we can all hold hands and heart to get this government in the shortest possible time,” Vaz declared.

— Everard Owen