Dear Editor,

Somehow, I don’t think the news that Joan Gordon-Webley has decided to leave the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and join the People’s National Party (PNP) should come as a shock to most. Like several other former JLP members, I suspect that Gordon-Webley wanted to be in a party that has some chance of winning State power in their lifetimes.

Let’s be real here, the JLP really doesn’t look like it can win State power any time in the foreseeable future. We recently had one senior JLP member calling on the party leader to quit in the public’s interest. We had another warning one prospective MP to stay out of “his” constituency. And, of course, we will always be entertained by “Everytime Warrington”, among other JLP soap opera characters.

I suppose that Gordon-Webley was encouraged to join the PNP after taking much note of the advances that other former JLP members have made since making the switch. She may have been impressed by the rapid rise of MP Lloyd B Smith to deputy house speaker, MP Lisa Hanna’s rise to a minister, or Lambert Brown’s elevation to the Senate and seen it as good reason to not rot away into oblivion in the JLP.

Now I know that some PNP members may not be too happy with the prospects that they may be overlooked for Gordon-Webly by the PNP bigwigs in its quest to get candidates. However, such is politics. We really can’t blame Gordon-Webley for trying. After all, who really wants to stay on a sinking ship?

On the other hand, I constantly hear of one former PNP member who is doing all she can to get a meaningful position in the JLP – apparently at the expense of a sitting JLP MP. May I be so bold and advise her, and indeed all the other members of the JLP who want to have any real future in Jamaican politics, to leave the JLP and join the one that has a chance of winning.

Michael A Dingwall

michael_a_dingwall@hotmail.com