JLP mulls Warmington's accusations

Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer

Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Chairman Mike Henry has confirmed that allegations levelled against the party leader and prime minister, Bruce Golding, by controversial member Everald Warmington are to be dealt with by the Central Executive, the JLP's second highest decision-making body after the annual conference.

Henry told The Sunday Gleaner yesterday that Golding plans to place the matter squarely before the Central Executive. This means that the JLP will have to wait until September for an outcome.

"A decision will have to be made at that time," Henry told The Sunday Gleaner yesterday. "Some decisions on matters requiring a decision on how the party goes forward, will have to be made, and the Central Executive will have to do it," he stressed.

The next Central Executive meeting is scheduled for September, while annual conference is traditionally held in November of each year.

Other issues

"It is my feeling that the Central Executive will have some issues to deal with (out of the Standing Committee)," added Henry. "The Standing Committee, which operates on a weekly basis, is a creature of the Central Executive."

Earlier in the week, Golding expressed a willingness to have the (Warmington) matter referred to the Central Executive, which meets on a quarterly basis.

It's understood that when Golding made the disclosure to the Standing Committee earlier this week, he commented that "Mr Warmington is one who is known to speak his mind".

"My interpretation of what the prime minister has said is that he will be addressing the Central Executive, and a decision will emerge from that," Henry said.

He said apart from the issues concerning Golding and Warmington, the Central Executive has a full slate when it convenes in two months. This includes the ratification of members of caretaker/candidates in preparation for the upcoming general election, which is constitutionally due in just over a year.

JLP insiders divulged that amid tension at this week's Standing Committee meeting, three of Golding's loyalists - Desmond McKenzie, Daryl Vaz and Dr Christopher Tufton - stood in the prime minister's defence and moved to extend the olive branch in a bid to pacify the unease in the JLP.

This followed the Standing Committee meeting nearly two weeks ago in which Warmington took Golding to task over his handling of the Manatt-Dudus affair and the subsequent booting of former minister of justice and attorney general, Dorothy Lightbourne.

Among a range of other grouses, Warmington expressed his displeasure with Golding's appointment of several former National Democratic Movement members to high-profile positions since assuming the office of prime minister nearly four years ago.

Warmington also took exception to Golding's decision to appoint Ransford Braham, senior attorney of the prestigious law firm Livingston, Alexander and Levy, who was representing the JLP leader in the lawsuit filed by another party member, attorney Harold Brady.