What if?
Published:Wednesday | October 2, 2013 | 12:00 AM
THE EDITOR, Sir:
I cannot speak to the truthfulness of the things I hear or read in social media. I have no authority on any subject having to do with the leadership race within the JLP between Andrew Holness and Audley Shaw. Being bombarded with information, one has to wonder, however, what if?
What if there is any truth to the argument that Audley Shaw told Andrew Holness several times that he would never challenge him for leadership of the JLP? What if Mr Shaw is really not up to the challenge but is being put up to the challenge by elements with a hidden agenda?
What if Mr Shaw is being used as a nightwatchman - being asked to hold the bat until the real contender secures a safe seat and returns to winning ways and becomes an MP again? What if this safe seat is somewhere in Clarendon? What if the said Clarendon seat were to be vacated based on a promise of a high-profile position which pays even more than that of prime minister?
What if those persons who said they did not 'see' the report did not in fact 'see' the report but are conversant with the contents of the report? What if Andrew Holness got no support from anyone to foot the $3-million bill to carry out the survey and had to raise the money himself? What if the contents of the said report implicated others much more than it did the leader?
What if it is not true that Andrew Holness alienated losing candidates? What if he really went to Westmoreland first on an all-island tour knowing that the JLP won no seats there? What if, after Westmoreland, he went to Hanover and then to St James and Trelawny?
What if, after leaving Trelawny, he went to Manchester? What if, when he went to Manchester, the cry of the people was that they were yet to see their area council leader? What if the tour was suspended based on heavy resistance that the leader faced from functionaries within these area councils and constituencies? What if he met with resistance because of the fear of him gaining even more traction among the people, which would derail the hidden agenda?
I wonder if Mr Holness or Mr Shaw et al could shed some light on these what-ifs. The delegates and Jamaica need truth.
DAREN LARMOND