Neville Lewis, a former Cabinet minister in the Labour Party Government of the 1980s, has chided Edward Seaga for what he described as the JLP leader’s attempt to plant seeds of doubt about Bruce Golding’s leadership ability, and insisted that Golding was the best man to lead the party after Seaga steps aside in November.

“Bruce Golding represents a shift away from the tired, bitter politics of old,” Lewis said in a letter to the editor. “.His experiences have made him more qualified than any other contender for the position of party leader.”

Lewis was among 12 top flight Labourites from Western Jamaica who, in 1995, wrote to Seaga expressing dissatisfaction with his leadership style. It sparked a bitter feud in the often fractious party that led to the majority of the 12, as well as Golding, leaving the JLP and forming the National Democratic Movement (NDM) which advocated a new form of politics that was less divisive, more inclusive, more transparent and more accountable.

The NDM, though, failed to gain traction among the electorate and Golding eventually returned to the JLP in September 2002 in time for general elections the following month. Although the JLP did not win the elections, it made significant gains, taking 26 of the 60 parliamentary seats, an increase of 16. The achievement was largely attributed to a groundswell of support triggered by Golding’s return.

Late last month, however, Seaga, again under internal pressure to step down and complaining of a lack of respect from the party’s young Turks who are supportive of Golding, wrote to Golding saying that he intended to quit in November, but criticised him for ineffective leadership.

“The real problem is the ineffectiveness of your leadership as chairman in curbing the conduct of those around you,” Seaga said. “While you continue to offer ineffective leadership the party will continue to disintegrate without any hope for recovery.

“I have always had the greatest respect for your ability as a thoughtful person with a good analytical mind, but it should come as no surprise to you if I repeat once more, as I have publicly done in the past, that you lack the skills to lead effectively.”

The letter provided fodder for Seaga’s critics, some of whom branded him as a bitter and malicious old man, intent on destroying the JLP if he could not have his way.

In fact, Lewis, in his letter, said that his wish that Seaga would depart office with grace and dignity had been thrown out the window. He also said that the party leader’s letter gave an indication of what Golding has had to contend with within the party.

Following is the full text of Lewis’ letter.

“Edward Seaga’s intention to step down as leader of the Jamaica Labour Party is a decision that brings great relief to those who wish him well, but to my surprise the unfortunate events in the aftermath of his decision have meant that my wish that Seaga depart office with grace and dignity has been thrown out the window.

“It has often been said that Mr Seaga is his own worst enemy.

“I would have to agree with this sentiment. As one who stood by him during the difficult days of the 1970s, worked in his Cabinet when he was prime minister in the 1980s and served with him when he returned to the position of opposition leader in the 1990s, I had hoped that the series of election defeats and lost opportunities to repair a broken party would have been enough to make Mr Seaga, who has contributed so much to the country, realise that he should have departed a long time ago.

“As a Jamaican who wished for my country the vibrancy and competitiveness that the two-party system offers, I along with 11 concerned party faithful from Western Jamaica decided to write Mr Seaga and express our fervent hope that he begin the process of turning over the leadership to Bruce Golding.

“Golding was my man then, and Golding is my man now!

“More than anything else, Golding’s departure from the party and his return to it has given him a chance to rethink the Jamaican political process – indeed his experiences have made him more qualified than any other contender for the position of party leader.

“Bruce Golding represents a shift away from the tired, bitter politics of old. He has been a Cabinet minister and a party chairman, and he can bring new ideas to both Jamaica’s political process and its economic difficulties. More than anything else, he’s ready to admit past political failures and can work with a new generation of Jamaicans to forge a different path for the country.

“My support for Golding is further justified in light of the letter Seaga wrote upon his departure in which he is insistent on planting the seeds of doubt about Golding’s leadership. This letter speaks volumes about what Golding has had to contend with in the JLP, and his response has been calm, rational and void of any bitterness or combativeness which would only serve to deepen divisions and create more discontent within the party. Golding is showing a maturity that is worthy of what Jamaicans are seeking in their leaders.

“I cannot close without saying a few words about Mr Shearer, a man who served our country with distinction. Those who worked with Mr Shearer were always impressed by his polite, affable manner. He was an approachable politician who listened and cared about people’s concerns and he was a politician who understood that combative politics was unhealthy, unnecessary, and detrimental to Jamaica’s political process.

“His finest legacy is that he left Jamaica better off than when he found it. He strengthened the trade union movement and the Jamaica Labour Party through his service.

“I will simply say to those who are in the position to make Bruce Golding’s leadership possible: do what is right for Jamaica. That is all I ask.”