Samuda backs out
Published:Wednesday | October 6, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Arthur Hall, Senior Staff Reporter
Minister with responsibility for information, Daryl Vaz, has emerged the clear favourite to head the Secretariat of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) following the official declaration from veteran politician Karl Samuda that he does not want to be nominated for the job.
Vaz is reportedly getting the support of several influential members of the party as the JLP prepares for what is shaping up to be a two-person race, with current deputy general secretary Aundre Franklin being the other candidate.
But Franklin seems set to have the wily Samuda in his camp, and that could give him a boost to ensure that he gets the better of Vaz when members of the JLP's Central Executive meet following the party's annual conference next month.
Samuda made the long-anticipated announcement on Monday night during the weekly meeting of the JLP's Standing Committee, without giving any reason for his decision not to seek re-election to one of the most powerful posts in the party.
He has served as general secretary since 2003 when he beat Edmund Bartlett and Arthur Williams in a contest to replace Ryan Peralto.
JLP insiders yesterday told The Gleaner that Samuda hinted to Monday's meeting of the Standing Committee his disappoint-ment with the decision of Vaz to announce an intent to challenge for the post more than two weeks ago.
"Samuda ranted about persons putting their personal interest before the interest of the party, in an obvious jab at Vaz," one senior JLP insider told The Gleaner.
"But Vaz had a jab of his own, as he raged about the closeness between some senior members of the party and the PNP's (People's National Party) Abe Dabdoub, in an obvious blow at Samuda," the insider added.
Relationship changed
According to the JLP source, Vaz was supported by another Cabinet member who argued that despite the close association he had with Dabdoub while he was a fellow Labourite, that relation-ship changed when the attorney and unsuccessful PNP candidate started leading the Opposition's attempt to unseat government members of parliament who reportedly have dual citizenship.
"This is going to be an interesting battle and, while Vaz is expected to win, Franklin has respect on the ground, and Samuda's support will either be the kiss of death or the wind beneath his wings," said the JLP insider.
The source noted that party leader, Prime Minister Bruce Golding, indicated that he had no problem with the decision to challenge the long-serving general secretary and senior Cabinet member.
"The leader declared that nobody held their position for life and once the contest was done with decency and decorum it would not be bad for the party.
"It is clear that all is not well between Golding and Samuda, but the leader won't take any sides because Franklin is also one of his trusted lieutenants, just like Vaz," added the JLP insider who was present at Monday's Standing Committee meeting.
Golding appointed Vaz a junior minister before promoting him to a full Cabinet rank after the JLP's victory in the 2007 general elections.
Franklin, who was once the general of the party youth group, Young Jamaica, was also rewarded for his work in the trenches with his appointment to the Senate and the post of parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Health.
While Vaz, the minister with responsibility for information, has frequently graced the media as the face and voice of the administration, Franklin has impressed many working quietly under the radar.
He was recently elected vice-president of the 43-year-old prestigious advisory Committee of the Latin American and Caribbean Centre on Health Science Information (BIREME).
Efforts to contact Samuda yesterday were unsuccessful while Vaz and Franklin have already indicated that they do not wish to make any public comment on the race.