Turks tussle!
Published:Sunday | September 26, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer
The young Turks in the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) are at it again.
This time, challenges to the status quo by West Portland Member of Parliament Daryl Vaz and Senator Aundré Franklin have signalled that a mood of renewal has gripped the 67-year-old organisation.
The Turks - so labelled for their energy and drive - came to prominence as king makers in 2002 when they saw to the return of Bruce Golding to the JLP and the eventual retirement of former leader Edward Seaga.
Political observers claim that the unprecedented move by Vaz to challenge sitting General Secretary Karl Samuda is a signal of the growing rift in the party and the re-energising of the Turks. JLP stalwarts are quick to set this view aside.
At the same time, Horace Chang, one of four deputy leaders and a close affiliate of the Turks, has cast aside suggestions that he plans to challenge his brother-in-law, Dr Kenneth Baugh, for the chairmanship position.
Chang told The Sunday Gleaner that he had no intention of challenging Baugh, who has been overseas for two weeks.
"The matter will be discussed in my area council meeting, and with Dr Baugh when he gets back, before I proceed," he said
Chang said he was not interested in running if Baugh retained an interest in the position. However, it is understood that Baugh is contemplating stepping aside.
Insiders say Baugh has lost ground as chairman as he seems to have lost the energy to carry out the tough task of chairmanship in this difficult period.
Baugh is expected back in the island on Wednesday.
"He is viewed as an elder statesman rather than a JLP chairman," an insider told The Sunday Gleaner.
If Baugh walks away, Chang, who is prepared to step into the void, has until next week to make a decision.
Vaz, however, clearly has no such compunction. Samuda was overseas when news emerged that the deputy general secretary plans to unseat him, as part of the efforts to wrest power from the old guard.
Vaz and Franklin have signalled that they will be vying for the coveted general secretary post, even though the incumbent, Karl Samuda, has not signalled that he is no longer interested in the position he has held since 2003.
Not showing hand
That question was put to Samuda, who was in New York, when news broke that Vaz planned to upset the status quo by challenging an existing general secretary.
But Karl Samuda is not showing his hand at this time - at least publicly.
He told The Gleaner that he was not yet ready to address the matter.
"It will have to be addressed sooner or later, but I am just not yet ready to speak on the matter," said Samuda, who is scheduled to return to the island this week.
A chuckling Samuda warded off persistent queries, saying the time would come when he must speak.
The taciturn attitude of the normally outspoken JLP general secretary appears to have left many Labourites speculating as to his next move.
Samuda is not one to surrender easily to any challenge.
Described as a strong political warrior by many in the party, Samuda has had some bruising battles with the leadership of the JLP in the past.
Samuda was adamant, fiery, and challenging, even when he was booted from the party in 1991 for speaking out of turn on the issue of liberalisation in the heat of the 'Gang of Five' fight.
Party officials are holding on to the tenuous hope that they have enough time to reach an amicable resolution by the time the Central Executive meets in late November or early December.
The challenge to Samuda by Vaz, a staunch loyalist of the JLP leader, Prime Minister Bruce Golding, would be historic.
Traditionally, general secretaries in both major political parties are not challenged in this manner. They are generally allowed to depart with dignity.
The unprecedented challenge has come less than two weeks after a stormy Central Executive meeting in which Golding supporters and Samuda found themselves in adversarial positions over the issue of Harold Brady's membership.
Political historian Troy Caine, who has been closely associated with the JLP, agrees that it is a case of the new moving to replace the old.
"The party is in a state of reinvention with so many young people, many coming in with Bruce," said Caine.
"Karl is considered to be a member of the old guard. You have to measure whether you want a member of the old or the new to form crucial parts of your team," he added
Expected move
Caine said it was expected that Vaz, who has emerged as one of the high-profile young persons in the party in recent years, would have ambition for the powerful post.
"The party has to seek people from the young cadre," asserted Caine. "It is understandable that someone like Vaz, a good organiser and campaigner, would be considered to be ideal for the position of general secretary."
He suggested that Franklin's effort would be an exercise in futility. "I don't see if Vaz is in the contest why Aundré would go in ... . I don't want to pour cold water on his effort, but I think it would be a no-contest."
Caine is of the view that Samuda has had a good run as general secretary.
"I had always seen Karl as an effective general secretary. He came in at a time when even more pressure was being placed on Seaga and was able to steady the ship."
Caine said he did not view the comments made by Samuda about Golding in the aftermath of the Brady membership comment by the prime minister as a credible attempt at damage control.
The political historian said he could not agree with persons who have interpreted Samuda's comments as an insult.
"I didn't see Karl's comment as an insult to Bruce," he told The Sunday Gleaner.
Golding had told journalists that Brady was not a member of the JLP, an assertion that was refuted with success by Brady.
Caine suggested that Samuda had been given a tough task when he was confronted by the media and had to explain why Golding had made the comment.
Samuda had sought to explain that Golding was not equipped with the information at the time members of the media enquired about Brady's status in the JLP.
"It was the best he (Samuda) could do under the circumstances," argued Caine.
Samuda moved into the general secretary post after a contest with Ed Bartlett and Arthur Williams.
He succeeded Ryan Peralto, who had replaced Bruce Golding in the tumultuous days of the 1990s.
Samuda was expelled from the JLP in 1991, and in 1992 joined the People's National Party, taking the North Central St Andrew seat with him. He returned to the JLP in 1995.
"Karl took the post at a time when no one else was rushing into it ... . It was his way of re-embracing the party," said Caine.