Seaga

Edward Seaga Tuesday night informed his West Kingston constituents that he intended to resign as their member of parliament by mid-January next year and confirmed a long-held rumour that he will take up a top position at the University of the West Indies (UWI).

But his resignation will likely provide the Labour Party with the headache of naming a leader for the parliamentary group and an interim party boss until leadership elections are held at the party's postponed annual conference scheduled for February 19-20.

Yesterday, one political analyst reasoned that the JLP would likely give priority to the appointment of an opposition leader, given that the House of Representatives, which is now on Christmas recess, is scheduled to resume on January 11.

Last night, JLP general-secretary Karl Samuda told the Observer that the issue would have to be discussed at the party's weekly Standing Committee meeting next Monday night.

"It is a sort of awkward period for the party," Samuda said, "but all appropriate steps will be taken to ensure that the party continues to function".

Samuda said that the parliamentary group will have to meet to decide on an opposition leader.

Political watchers suggested that Ken Baugh, the MP for West Central St Catherine and the Opposition spokesman on health, would be the likely favourite of the majority of Opposition MPs.

Last night, Arthur Williams, one of the party's deputy general secretaries, said that the JLP's constitution was silent on the issue of an interim leader. However, he said "it is unlikely that the party would elect an interim leader three weeks before the annual conference".

Yesterday, it emerged that Seaga's announcement had taken some party officials by surprise, as they had apparently conditioned themselves to deal with a 19-day leadership vacuum after Seaga had indicated at the last Central Executive meeting that he was not willing to remain leader of the party beyond January 31.

But yesterday Seaga, according to a news release sent from his office, said he was obliged to give up his involvement in active politics to make himself available for selection to a high-ranking academic position at the UWI, which would be decided by the end of January.

Last night, Samuda said the party acknowledged that Seaga had little choice in the matter.

"We are satisfied that were it in Mr Seaga's power to stay on as party leader and opposition leader until the conference, he would have. But he is not in that position," Samuda said.

According to a party insider, who asked for anonymity, Seaga made the declaration to his constituents hours after making his intention known at a meeting with three senior JLP members - his likely successor as party leader, Bruce Golding; Central St Catherine MP Olivia "Babsy" Grange; and mayor of Kingston, Councillor Desmond McKenzie.

The JLP insider told the Observer that Seaga proposed that McKenzie stay on as mayor of the capital, that Grange switch to West Kingston and that Golding return to Central St Catherine which he had represented up to 1997. All three, the Observer was told, accepted the proposal.

But attorney-at-law Tom Tavares-Finson, who has not hidden his interest in the West Kingston seat, said last night that he had no intention of going along with the move.

"There has to be a selection process after Mr Seaga has resigned, and I intend to participate in that process," Tavares-Finson told the Observer.

Tavares-Finson, according to two JLP delegates who asked not to be named, enjoys huge support in the constituency and is apparently favoured by the party's reformist wing, which is backing Golding to win next February's leadership election over Pearnel Charles.

Mayor McKenzie, who represents the Tivoli Gardens Division of West Kingston, was reported yesterday as saying that he thought it would be selfish to suddenly give up his job as mayor to contest the West Kingston seat, but that he would move to a higher level of politics at a later date.

Yesterday's news release said that McKenzie, who was at Tuesday evening's constituency meeting, told delegates who had raised the possibility of his succeeding Seaga that he could not carry the burden of responsibilities of both mayor and MP and that he preferred to continue in the role of mayor.

Seaga, the release said, felt that the Corporate Area was benefitting greatly from the work McKenzie has been doing.
Grange told the Observer last night that she would not be in a position to go public on the matter until she had discussed it with her constituents. Golding was not available for comment up to last night.

According to the release, "many delegates were stunned in disbelief" by Seaga's announcement; "others wept openly and protested".

Seaga, however, assured them that he would still be actively involved in non-political programmes in the area, principally in terms of sports, culture and education. He said that he was not saying good-bye, as he would still be a constant visitor and would never give up his social programmes in the area.
Seaga, the release added, is to address his constituents at a public meeting on January 16.

EDWARD SEAGA FACT FILE

1930: Born in Boston, USA, to Jamaican parents
Educated at the Wolmer's Boys School in Kingston and Harvard University in the United States.

Political career

1959: Nominated to Legislative Council
1962: Elected MP for West Kingston
1962 - 1967: Minister of Development and Social Welfare
1967 - 1972: Minister of Finance and Planning
1974: Became leader of the Jamaica Labour Party and Opposition Leader
1980: Became prime minister after beating Michael Manley's PNP in a bitterly fought election
1989: Lost general election to Michael Manley's PNP and has been leader of the opposition since.

Seaga got married to Mitsy Constantine (Miss Jamaica 1964) in 1965 and had three children - Annabella; Andrew; and Christopher (adopted). The couple divorced in 1995.
In 1996 he married Carla Frances Vendreys. The couple have one child - Gabrielle, born September 2002.

Minister Grange tours new BBC studios

Guinness Sounds of Greatness creating a dancehall for everyone

Tarrus Riley shoots video for Start Anew