EDITORIAL - The JLP's looming contest

It increasingly seems unlikely that the new leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), and ultimately prime minister of Jamaica, will be determined by back-room deals, which some posit as a way to avoid a bruising contest that could damage the party only a year away from a general election.

At least, Mr Andrew Holness, considered a front-runner to succeed Bruce Golding, will have none of it. Not only has the 39-year-old Mr Holness politely declined the entreaties of the shadowy party suits who want him to suspend his ambitions in favour of the finance minister, Mr Audley Shaw, but, uncharacteristically, he has been about presenting the outlines of his case for leadership.

Mr Holness' bald argument, so far, is that he represents Jamaica's post-Independence generation that, heading into the country's 50th anniversary of statehood, is ready to assert itself. His consensual approach to politics is in concert with the vision of the country's youth, fed up with the harsh, tribalistic attitudes that still ensnare the two main parties, the JLP and the People's National Party.

Tufton's case

A similar case may well be advanced by Dr Christopher Tufton, the investment minister, another prospective candidate, who is only four years Mr Holness' senior. Dr Tufton has, however, been suggesting a negotiated, consensual approach to deciding on the leader.

Of the identifiable front-runners, that leaves the voluble and assertive Mr Shaw, the 59-year-old finance minister, who says he has not yet decided whether he will seek the leadership, and claims, to major disbelief, to have been ignorant of persons canvassing his candidacy.

There are potential dark horses and would-be kingmakers in the shadows, testing the winds before deciding on their own moves.

In the circumstances, negotiating a leader could seem an attractive option for the JLP if, with a general election not far off, it avoids the wounds and divisiveness that often attend internal contests.

The potential downside to this approach, though, is that it possibly leaves the consensus candidate with compromised legitimacy and he would be beholden to too many interests. Unless, that is, the candidate behind whom everyone lines up was clearly way ahead of the rest and his victory would have been assured under any circumstance.

Preening for public

Whatever strategy the JLP decides on for choosing its new leader, this newspaper believes that it is the right of the public, not just the party insiders, to know what they stand for, and what credible ideas they have for building the economy, creating jobs, tackling crime and fixing the education system. There must be an open articulation of these proposals. Should this happen in the context of an open and traditional leadership contest, it need not, if maturely approached and properly managed, cause the fallout which JLP supporters legitimately fear.

This places a special responsibility on Mr Golding. He chose the time of his planned departure and would have been aware of its implications. He must now manage the process in a way that causes least damage to his party, without sacrificing democracy.

It helps that the period for the jostling and any open campaigning, under two months, is relatively short, although it is a lot of time within which to make many gaffes.