JLP TURMOIL

The ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is battling internal revolt in St Andrew North Central as Delano Seiveright’s campaign pause fuels backlash over claims that the leadership is plotting to sideline him in favour of Christian Tavares-Finson.

Over the past 36 hours, tensions have sharply escalated, with infighting and threats of street protests emerging in the JLP stronghold just months before the general election expected by September.

Veteran political powerbroker Pauline Samuda revealed that Seiveright’s April 18 public announcement of his interest in the seat was strategically timed to pre-empt the rollout of Tavares-Finson, son of Senate President Tom Tavares-Finson, as the party’s pick to succeed her husband, Karl Samuda, who has hinted that he may retire after holding the seat since 1980.

“Yes,” Mrs Samuda said bluntly when asked if the timing of Seiveright’s announcement was to pre-empt a planned public unveiling of Tavares-Finson.

“Delano then applied ... . He wrote a letter saying that he was applying for the seat. So he did apply, but I think that came at a time when there was a little movement to put somebody else in the seat, and so we kind of messed that up.”

On Monday, Seiveright’s campaign was abruptly paused following a tense meeting with JLP General Secretary Dr Horace Chang at the JLP’s Belmont Road, St Andrew, headquarters, where green-clad workers and supporters from North Central confronted Chang over the junior tourism minister’s apparent sidelining.

By Tuesday, Seiveright issued a statement saying: “This is not a withdrawal. Far from it. It’s simply a moment to allow the party the space it needs to move forward in unity and strength.”

But behind that calm tone, sources say supporters were preparing to blockade key roads – Red Hills Road, Constant Spring Road, and sections of Manor Park – fearing what they called an orchestrated effort to derail Seiveright’s candidacy. That protest was only called off after emergency intervention by JLP operatives, party insiders told The Gleaner.

That show of force, according to one insider, “was a clear signal to the party that workers and supporters in the constituency will not be silenced”.

The party remains tight-lipped about the selection process. While Chang confirmed to The Gleaner on Tuesday that Christian Tavares-Finson has formally applied, he said that Seiveright merely submitted a “letter of interest” but “hasn’t really applied in the formal sense”.

Mrs Samuda disputes that, insisting that Seiveright’s application was submitted via her husband as required due to his status as sitting MP. Mr Samuda endorsed Seiveright and supported his election as constituency vice-president last November – an early signal of succession.

“I think that maybe Dr Chang is getting a little confused. We were told that if you have a sitting member of parliament, that you cannot apply for the seat. So, therefore, what we did is that Delano applied to Samuda, and Mr Samuda wrote a covering letter and sent that to the party office, right? Which was saying that this was his choice,” she told The Gleaner.

The turmoil has also highlighted Mr Samuda’s waning influence.

“The fact that that kind of action was being contemplated without his knowledge shows he doesn’t have the kind of control he once had,” said a constituency source familiar with the fallout.

Mr Samuda has declined to comment on the race.

Fuelling the instability are renewed rumours that Mr Samuda may reconsider and run again if Seiveright is blocked.

“Yes, there was a thing that if it wasn’t Delano that he would run again,” Mrs Samuda acknowledged. “It could have [triggered reactions], yes.”

Asked directly about internal resistance in the JLP top ranks to Seiveright, Mrs Samuda was dismissive.

“I think there might be a few but not enough to change it,” she said. “Delano will be the candidate for North Central. That’s Pauline Samuda saying that. Now, I hope and pray, but I think he will be because he checks all the boxes.”

Mrs Samuda was unsparing in her assessment of Christian Tavares-Finson’s readiness.

“I have known Christian from he was a little boy. I mean, my sons and Christian were good friends. He’s a good boy, but he’s not good for North Central at this time,” she said. “I don’t think he has a political experience yet. He needs to come and learn, … work the constituency like what Delano has done. Visit all the constituents and work hard. I don’t think Christian has done that yet.”

Mrs Samuda also downplayed the political history between her husband and Tom Tavares-Finson, Christian Tavares-Finson's father – who lost to Mr Samuda in 1993 – as a factor.

“My husband is a very forgiving person,” she said, referring to the 1993 election in which Mr Samuda, who had switched to the PNP at the time, defeated Tom Tavares-Finson by 171 votes to retain the seat.

Tom and Christian Tavares-Finson have both declined to comment on the situation.

There’s also long-standing political baggage. Seiveright supported Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness’ rival, Audley Shaw, in a JLP leadership contest over a decade ago, which some delegates believe still haunts his standing with the party’s inner circle.

In leaked audio from the Monday meeting, Chang denied that Seiveright was being pushed aside.

“It is not true,” he told concerned supporters, later adding to The Gleaner: “The party’s mechanism is working to settle without a contested operation.”

Still, many in the constituency fear that the party aims to impose a candidate lacking grass-roots support. Local councillors Lee Clarke and Susan Senior have publicly endorsed 40-year-old Seiveright, citing his past campaign work in St Thomas Eastern and his leadership of the party’s young professional arm.

Pauline Samuda said a contest would be “perfect” because “Delano would win with flying colours”.

On Tuesday, constituents were vocal in their support.

“Me feel bad, y’know because a Delano wi seh,” said Charmaine Simmonds, 63, of Park Lane, commenting on Seiveright’s move to suspend his campaign. “And if we nuh get Delano, we a march straight go a Belmont Road. And if we nuh go a Belmont Road, we a go block the road and nobody in here nah vote. Di whole Red Hills Road nah vote weh a Labourite. No vote nah come out yah!”

Simmonds said Seiveright is a “good man” who has shown regard for members of the constituency, and the move to avoid a contest may be an attempt at “sabotage”.

“Me don’t know him, mi don’t know who name so. Me never see him,” she said of Christian Tavares-Finson.

Another resident, Janet Baker, was similarly insistent.

““A him wi want still. Wi nuh want nuhbody else. Nuh want Tom bwoy. Mek Tom bwoy stay one side,”she said.

“This shocking right now,” said Leon, while discussing the developments with neighbours. “We never want this gwaan, but as weh him seh, a just a pause still. We would a want see him. Mek him come in person come mek the people dem know.”

editorial@gleanerjm.com