Mike 'Mr Renewal' Henry

Whatever else may be taking place in the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), it is quite possible to interpret the contests for several and second-tier posts as part of a process of renewal. In most cases, younger candidates are displacing older ones.

We will be forgiven, in this case, if we are curious about what is happening in the post of chairman, which is being vacated by Dr Ken Baugh, the urbane foreign minister and a Jamaica Labour Party stalwart of long standing.

As matters now stand, it is foregone that he will be succeeded by Mike Henry, the works and transport minister, who, at 75, is, comfortably, Dr Baugh's senior.

Mr Henry is no Nelson Mandela. He is widely perceived as a resourceful political scrapper, skilled in all the old tricks of the trade.

Mr Henry, though, has the support of G2K, the JLP's primary youth group. They see in him renewal. Interesting.

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