Malahoo Forte insists she will seek re-election amid JLP evaluation

Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Member of Parliament for St James West Central Marlene Malahoo Forte is insisting that she will be seeking re-election in national polls due by September.

"I remain the elected Member of Parliament for St James West Central, and I intend to contest the next general elections," she told The Gleaner on Wednesday. Malahoo Forte, also a cabinet minister, declined to answer further questions on the issue.

Her comments come days after JLP spokesman Marlon Morgan, to the surprise of some party figures, publicly disclosed that Malahoo Forte was not confirmed as the party's representative for the seat.

"We cannot say that definitively," he told Nationwide Radio’s Cliff Hughes when asked whether the minister will be the party’s representative in the general election.

"There’s an ongoing evaluation exercise at present in the Jamaica Labour Party in some of its seats, and of course, the general secretary said as much this week. West Central St James happens to be one of them."

Morgan also said that a consultation was held with constituency workers in late January. The results have not been made public, but a source said, "There should be concern for the MP and for persons who want to see her gone."

At least one senior JLP official has questioned whether it was appropriate for Morgan to speak publicly about the senior cabinet minister and whether he would have done similar with other top party representatives.

"It betrays the games afoot, even if she stays on," said the official, who was not authorised to speak.

Malahoo Forte sidestepped questions on whether she believed she was being forced out.

"Perhaps you should go and find out," she said.

Among the names mentioned as possible replacements are current Mayor of Montego Bay Richard Vernon and Dwight Crawford, councillor for the Spring Garden Division in the constituency. The relative of a senior official is also among the mix.

"I have heard the rumours and the truth among them is unclear," Vernon said Wednesday. "I'm focused on the Office of the Mayor and the City of Montego Bay. And, politically I will be rendering support to all five candidates for the Jamaica Labour Party for the upcoming election."

The JLP holds all five constituencies in St James.

Crawford, also a key organiser, declined to comment.

Malahoo Forte, a former judge and attorney general, was first elected in February 2016 after polling 6,635 votes to the 5,374 received by Sharon Ffolkes Abrahams of the main opposition People's National Party (PNP).

She won re-election in 2020, amid similar internal concerns about whether she could retain the seat. The margin dipped slightly to 6,181. Economist Dr Andre Haughton of the PNP polled 4,415 votes. He remains the party’s representative.

Malahoo Forte, the minister of legal and constitutional affairs, is also leading Jamaica’s efforts to become a republic.

- Jovan Johnson

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