THE Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is facing intensifying internal friction in the St Andrew North Central constituency, as the leadership continues to delay a decision on who is to replace veteran Member of Parliament Karl Samuda as its standard-bearer there.

Former president of the party’s young professionals group Generation 2000 (G2K) Senator Delano Seiveright — who formally applied last month to represent the governing party in the constituency — seems to have captured the support of residents and Labourities in the party’s stronghold, but attorney-at-law Christian Tavares-Finson — son of Senate President Tom Tavares-Finson — appears to be getting the backing of some top-tier JLP members.

Over the past several weeks, several delegates, workers, and residents in the constituency have indicated their support for Seiveright who has been increasingly active on the ground.

The sentiments boiled over last Friday as dozens of delegates and residents took to the streets in the Lady Huggins Lane area of Grants Pen, calling for a democratic selection process and expressing disappointment with comments made by JLP General Secretary Dr Horace Chang during an interview on Nationwide News Network.

Chang used the radio interview to signal that the party’s executive, not delegates, would determine the next standard-bearer for the seat, despite the use of delegate run-offs in several other constituencies.

“This kind of top-down approach is alienating the base,” said one delegate who made it clear that they are supporting Seiveright.

“You cannot treat Karl Samuda with such disregard, ignore the people’s choice and expect unity,” added another delegate as he warned that the JLP could face a major fallout if “dem go pass Delano”.

They charged that Chang’s position is a “betrayal” of party tradition and internal democracy, and a deliberate attempt to bypass the clear will of the people and impose a preferred candidate from outside the constituency.

Adding fuel to the fire is what residents describe as months of “disrespect” toward the long-serving Samuda.

The discontent reportedly dates back to November 2024, when Chang announced that Samuda would not be contesting the next general election.

According to the protestors, the abrupt nature of the declaration by Chang and the seeming lack of recognition for Samuda’s decades of service smacked of disrespect.

Samuda, 83, who has represented the constituency for almost 45 years, has openly endorsed Seiveright as his preferred successor. Samuda’s wife, Pauline, as well as the JLP’s sitting councillors in the constituency — Susan Senior (Norbrook Division) and Lee Clarke (Whitehall Division) — have also expressed support for Seiveright’s candidacy.

Seiveright, 40, is a seasoned political figure with deep ties to the constituency. He has served as vice-chairman of the constituency’s executive since November 2024 and is currently minister of state in the Ministry of Tourism.

Meanwhile, Tavares-Finson has been campaigning for the seat in recent months, with support from people close to the party’s leader, Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness.

But, several delegates in the constituency have claimed that he was never active in the area before indicating his interest in representing the constituency, and have raised concern about what they described as “parachute candidates” who are installed in constituencies based on family connections.

Chang has stated that the JLP hopes to resolve all seat selections by the end of May, with at least four constituencies still to be signed off on.

TAVARES-FINSON…has been campaigning for the St Andrew North Central seat in recent months