GOLDING... seen as front-runner

Audley Shaw, Derrick Smith, Mike Henry and Ed Bartlett have reportedly thrown their support behind Pearnel Charles for the leadership of the Jamaica Labour Party.

"Mr Smith has withdrawn, Mr Shaw has also withdrawn, and Mr Bartlett has withdrawn and they have indicated their support for me," Charles told the Observer last night. "I am in discussion on the matter and I will have a statement right after the funeral of Mr (Hugh) Shearer."

CHARLES... said to have wide-based grassroots support

Aside from Henry, who had long thrown his hat in the ring, none of the other men had officially declared their candidacy but had each indicated, at some point, that they had an interest in the top spot.

Efforts to reach Henry, Shaw, Smith, Bartlett and the other Labourites who Observer sources said took the decision to support Charles at a meeting in Kingston Tuesday night were unsuccessful.

Also at the meeting, he said, were Olivia "Babsy" Grange, Abe Dabdoub, and Andrew Holness.

With this grouping now backing Charles, the race for the leadership will be between him and his brother-in-law Bruce Golding who has long been seen as Seaga's heir apparent even when he left to form the now-crumbling National Democratic Movement.

Since Seaga announced that he would step down at the party's annual conference in November, there have been rumours that the Seaga loyalists would band together and choose a candidate from among themselves to do battle with Golding and his supporters, dubbed the reformists.

It is expected that the race between Golding and Charles would be keenly contested. Golding, the JLP chairman, will have to shake off the smear left by Seaga's parting letter in which the Opposition leader accused him of being too weak to lead.

Charles - one of the most popular JLP leaders over the years - is said to have wide-based grassroots support, but may be hurt by the perception that he is one of the old guard.

Trousers in Denim

Cream of the 'Crop'

Cheeky's World