JAMAICA Labour Party (JLP) leader Andrew Holness said Monday night that measures have been put in place to ensure that the party’s electoral process lives up to the highest standards and expectations, if there is a challenge to his leadership.

“I have directed the secretariat to put in place all the necessary measures, to ensure that the process lives up to the highest standards and expectations of the Jamaican people,” Holness told the Jamaica Observer after last night’s standing committee meeting at Belmont Road.

The JLP leader made comment after the party’s standing committee agreed to extend the deadline for the selection of delegates, who can choose a new leader, if necessary, at its upcoming annual conference.

“My greatest wish is that the challenge will come off smoothly and, at the end of the day, it is the party that wins,” the Opposition leader said.

Holness said that he has taken the view that any challenge to his leadership is such an important event in the life of the party that the widest number of delegates should be facilitated in the process.

“But, I also have to consider the rules of the party as set out in its constitution, and I believe the standing committee after extensive deliberations came up with a solution that extends the democratic rights of the delegates while, at the same time, preserving the rules and spirit of the party’s constitution,” he added.

The JLP leader also denied a rumour that he failed to meet the constitutional March 31 deadline for registration of constituencies.

“That’s not true. I was registered as at March 27 and paid in my cheque at that time,” he told the Observer.

“Democracy is not a free for all, it must rest first and foremost on the observance of rules and principles, and those seeking leadership must always remember that, in order to preserve democracy, there are rules and regulations that must be observed. Registration of constituencies within the specified period is a requirement of the constitution,” he pointed out.