'I am satisfied with all I've done' - Samuda comfortable with decision to bow out of Cabinet
Published:Thursday | June 30, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer
Karl Samuda, the veteran politician who rejected the energy and mining portfolio in the new-look Cabinet, is maintaining that while he has no remorse for his decision, his actions must not be viewed as a swipe at Prime Minister Bruce Golding.
"Rejecting an offer made by the prime minister is not to be seen as an act of aggression towards him, it is simply to be seen as a decision to be involved at a level where your contribution can be best made," Samuda told The Gleaner yesterday.
The former minister of industry, investment and commerce was clearly not his fiery old self, hours after Golding reportedly sought to shift one of his loyalists, Dr Christopher Tufton, to head that portfolio and sent him to lead the energy and mining ministry.
However, the energetic political veteran who wrestled with Golding and his mentor, former Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Leader Edward Seaga, in the Gang of Five scandal of the early 1990s before being booted from the party, stood his ground even in the throes of a severe back ailment.
No argument with golding
"The prime minister is the one who constitutionally has the authority and, therefore, one cannot begin to argue about a matter that we all entered knowing what those rules of the games were," Samuda said.
"So I have no argument with him and the exercise of his opinion," Samuda added. "As to what, in his view, is the best construct for his Government, is his right ... . I may not agree, but I will have to respect his right for what he has done."
Asked whether his relationship with Golding had deteriorated over the past year, Samuda responded: "There has been a change, but it is not something that I think needs to be dwelt on."
Samuda's explanation was philosophical as he considered the Government's struggle to extricate itself from the Manatt-Dudus mess that gave rise to differences between the two men, as well as others.
"It is one of things where you don't always agree, you don't always see eye to eye and I think what we must all try to do is to respect the views of others and most importantly, it is critical to transmit to those who we serve that within us is the capacity to respect service and loyalty," he said.
In response to Gleaner queries about likely regrets after spending a lifetime in politics, Samuda said while it had denied his family of his presence and denied him of the opportunities available in business, he harboured none.
"I feel satisfied that everything I have done, I have done it sincerely to advance the quality of life of the most vulnerable. That is my driving force, my motivation," he said.
Samuda served notice, however, that he was not ready to relinquish his three-decade-long hold on the North Central St Andrew constituency that he won for both the JLP and the People's National Party (PNP), the only politician to accomplish such a feat.
"For me, I welcome the opportunity to be able to spend more time in service to the people who have made all this possible for me and have stood by me for 31 years," Samuda asserted. "I have deep affection for them because, in the final analysis, what takes place in Cabinet is but one aspect of this process."
Samuda said that as a minister and then general secretary of the JLP, he had robbed his constituents of his presence and input.
He made it clear there would be no repeat of his 1992 move to the PNP.
"I will be serving my party," he declared.