Vaz pushes ahead with candidacy
Published:Thursday | October 7, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Arthur Hall, Senior Staff Reporter
Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) treasurer Daryl Vaz is staying in the race for the general secretary post, despite word that veteran politician Karl Samuda has decided to seek another term.
However, it appears that deputy general secretary Aundre Franklin could pull out of the race, even as JLP sources say he stands as good a chance as any of pulling the majority of the almost 180 votes in the Central Executive.
"It is unlikely that Aundre would want to enter the race if Karl is present, but Aundre has the support of several members of the Central Executive who have seen the hard work he has done in the trenches," a JLP insider said yesterday.
"Aundre is a hard worker who has kept the Secretariat running while allowing other persons to focus more on their government responsibilities," the insider added.
When contacted yesterday, Franklin maintained his position of not commenting on the issue.
But Vaz, cornered by journalists after the weekly post-Cabinet media briefing, said his decision to put himself up for the post had not changed.
While claiming that he decided to enter the race only after Samuda first indicated that he would not be going back, Vaz told the journalists that he could not pull out at this stage even though he would not rule out that possibility.
Ballot the answer
"I have put myself forward on the basis of a platform and, therefore, if there is a change of mind or whatever we must go and sell our colleagues our vision and how we plan to fund it and to organise it."
According to Vaz: "The best man will win because the ballot is the only answer."
He also sought to dismiss claims that a major battle is brewing for what is one of the most powerful positions in the JLP.
"As far as I am concerned, anybody who feels that they can serve the party in a particular capacity should be free to do so ... and I go further and indicate that Aundre Franklin was instrumental in my re-entry to the Jamaica Labour Party some years ago," said Vaz.
The JLP deputy treasurer said his campaign would not be built on tearing down any of his colleagues.
"I am putting myself forward because I believe that I can bring to the table something that can help us towards going into the next election."