WESTERN BUREAU — As the opposition Jamaica Labour Party goes into its 58th annual conference this weekend, the party is faced with a rift in the constituency of South St James.

Since it was announced last month that 39 year-old Leroy Grey was unsuccessful in his bid to represent the party in the constituency, scores of labourites have been staging numerous protest action against the decision.

For example, last month, hundreds of party supporters demonstrated in the constituency calling for the acceptance of Grey’ s application. And since that time, Grey’s supporters have intensified the protest action.

In fact, as recent as Wednesday, another demonstration was staged in the Cambridge district of the constituency. A letter calling for Grey’s appointment, under the signature of three JLP caretaker/councillors, also appeared in the Western Mirror.

Grey, the labourites charge, is a well-respected young man who was born in the Point district of the constituency, and as such, is worthy of representing the area.

Neville McKay, an ardent supporter of the party told the Observer that Grey has been working in the constituency for the past two years, and had assisted a number of residents in the area, especially in the field of agriculture.

“Grey is the only candidate that can win the seat on the labour party’s ticket and we are not interested in any other candidate,” McKay said. “The man is a very good worker and has the constituents at heart.”

But JLP deputy leader and Area Four chairman, Ed Bartlett, insisted that Grey will not be the candidate to represent the constituency on the party’s ticket.

“Mr Grey has been written to, by the party, to advise him that he is not suitable, and the people know that; and we have been saying that to the people and they refuse to accept it,” Bartlett told the Observer on Thursday.

The JLP deputy leader added that Grey was not authorized to do any political work in the constituency.

“We had several meetings with him and we told him that he should not do it, we pointed this out over and over to him but he continued to do it,” Bartlett said.

But Grey said he was not daunted by the rejection of his candidature by the party’s hierarchy.

“This won’t stop me from serving the people in the constituency. The labour party is not the only option. I believe I am of excellent quality, and my reputation is very good,” he said.

He said he had been working very hard in the constituency of South St James for the past two years, and the response from the constituents has been excellent.

“I have assisted many farmers and social groups in the area and I am going to continue to do it,” Grey said.

Meanwhile, Bartlett said that a consultation is to be held in the constituency on December 9.

According to Bartlett, at that time party workers will get a chance to decide if they want Ron Vernon as the party’s candidate for the constituency.

More than 180 party workers are eligible to participate in that exercise.

In the 1997 general election, Derrick Kellier of the People’s National Party defeated JLP candidate, publisher Lloyd B Smith, by over 3,000 votes to win the constituency.

Shortly afterwards, Smith resigned from the JLP.

The party is yet to find a caretaker for the constituency.