Jamaica Labour Party deputy leader James Robertson (second left) greets some of his supporters before yesterday's standing committee meeting at the party's Belmont Road offices in Kingston. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)

THERE will be a special meeting of the Standing Committee of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) tomorrow to discuss allegations, raised by its caretaker for East Portland, educator Dr Dennis Minott, of vote-buying in last November's internal elections.

Last night, the party's general secretary Karl Samuda told a group of anti-Minott Labourites from East Portland, who came to headquarters prior to the weekly standing committee meeting, that the special meeting was needed in the absence of party leader Edward Seaga.

Seaga was not at standing committee, having left the island Sunday for a meeting in the US Virgin Islands, but he is expected home today.

Samuda said tomorrow's meeting would look at claims made by last night's group from East Portland that Minott was not performing in the seat and should be replaced, as well as the vote-buying charges Minott raised with political ombudsman Bishop Herro Blair. Blair has since launched an investigation into Minott's challenger for the JLP caretaker spot in East Portland, Daryl Vaz..

The party, Samuda added, hopes that a decision would be reached that would put to rest the conflict between supporters of Minott and Vaz and allow the party's constituency machinery to resume its focus of regaining eastern Portland from the People's National Party (PNP).

After Samuda addressed them, the Portland group cheered him loudly and then withdrew after singing the party's anthem, Stand Up For Your Rights.

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