Franklin triumphs - Vanquished Vaz vows to be a team player
Published:Monday | December 6, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer
Aundré Franklin yesterday swept to victory in a euphoric tide over Daryl Vaz in a pulsating electoral race for general secretary of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).
Eighty-nine of the 162 delegates polled their ballots in favour of Franklin to Vaz's 55 and four for Dr Charlton Collie at yesterday's highly anticipated meeting of the JLP Central Executive.
The result effectively closed the door on Vaz as an officer of the party - for the next year at least.
Gregory Mair assumed the position of deputy treasurer, with Robert Montague being elected deputy chairman, replacing Ruddy Spencer.
Franklin had high praise for his campaign manager Robert Montague.
"Bobby has played a tremendous role in my victory. ... His position was not based on our friendship but on the fact that I worked hard and ensured that my party is in the forefront at all times."
He also commended Vaz for his energy in the campaign.
"Daryl ran a good race. He is my friend and a Young Turk, and I know that that he will be willing to assist the secretariat in any way possible to ensure a second term in furthering the development of our country for our people," said Franklin.
Vaz was philosophical in defeat.
"The delegates have spoken, they have the last say," declared Vaz after Arthur Williams, who presided over the elections, announced that he had been soundly beaten by the man who brought him back into the JLP.
Asked about his next move, Vaz said he would continue to work anywhere he was needed after rushing over to embrace and congratulate the ecstatic Franklin.
"I am a team player," Vaz asserted.
But there is no doubt that his flight to the upper echelons of the party hierarchy has been stalled.
However, he promised to work with the new general secretary to advance the cause of the JLP.
"We (Aundré and I) have been friends, and this has nothing to do with the election ... . We are colleagues."
Vaz, known for his candour that has in the past got him into hot water, was no less forthright yesterday as he bluntly acknowledged that he was no longer an officer of the JLP.
Vaz dismissed arguments that he was mortally wound politically.
"I still enjoy national popularity and I will still be playing a part in building Area Council Two," he told journalists. "I will still be working behind the scenes."
In the contest for the four deputy general secretaries, Warren Newby topped the contenders with 105 votes, followed by Joel Williams, 89; Ian Murray, 82; and Dr Sandra Nesbeth, 75.
Delroy Williams, 40 votes; Dr St Aubyn Bartlett, 56; and Dennis Meadows, with 72, failed in their bids for one of the deputy general secretary positions.
The excitement created an electric atmosphere from the very start, with Vaz and Franklin actively making the rounds in preparation for things to come.
Camaraderie was emphasised as both men embraced, an attempt to signal there were no any hard feelings in a party wracked by internal conflicts.
There were indications from early on that Collie would live up to the expectation of political observers - inside and outside the JLP - that he would be trounced.
Collie, who is neither a member of parliament, caretaker nor officer of the JLP, had to be elected as one of 10 co-opted members of the party, but this was not be, which prevented him from casting a vote in the general-secretary election.
Known supporters of both Vaz and Franklin were pictures of nervous energy near the door to the Jamaica Conference Centre room where the count was taking place.
After a long wait, the doors finally opened to whoops of excitement from the impatient Labourites.
As the announcement was made, Franklin hugged the outgoing general secretary, Karl Samuda, and the man whom he assisted for a number of years.
The elated Franklin then went over to an impassive JLP leader, Prime Minister Bruce Golding, who shook hands in acknowledgement before whisking him off to a one-on-one meeting.