MANCHESTER, Jamaica— Political rivalry is heating up in the ruling Jamaica Labour Party camp in Manchester North East since Audley Shaw’s announcement that he will not be seeking re-election.
Earlier this week, Craighead councillor, Omar Miller rubbished claims by Hidran McKulsky that the educator was not invited to the constituency’s Jamaica Labour Party conference on Sunday.
Both Miller and McKulsky have applied to take over from Shaw as the JLP’s aspirant for the constituency.

Read: Showdown for Shaw’s seat

“Please note that… Audley Shaw has always held his conference the Sunday before the national conference in Kingston and hence it is a fixed date for us to have our conferences. I have been a councillor for the past 13 years and that has never changed, not once,” Miller said in a voice message on Tuesday.

“Always the Sunday before our annual conference. The Labour Party conferences are public gatherings and therefore doesn’t require any special invitations. We are free. Any Jamaican and visitor is welcomed to come to our conferences,” he added.

Miller, who was endorsed by Shaw at the conference, said McKulsky would have been given the opportunity to speak there if he had attended.

“I believe if Mr McKulsky and his team wanted to be a part of the conference, it would have been a priority. The platform party would have welcomed him and gave him an opportunity to address the gathering as good labourites. The decision from the Member of Parliament would have not changed as it relates to endorsing yours truly, Omar Miller, because the voice of the people is always the first priority for the Member of Parliament,” said Miller.

“I will make a priority to note that Mr McKulsky and his team will be invited to our next conference next year going into our annual conference. We want to work together to build this constituency as we move forward,” added Miller.