Central Clarendon Labourites ‘Angry’ Williams Named as Standard-Bearer

Labourites in Central Clarendon are reportedly upset the Jamaica Labour Party, JLP, has named deputy mayor of Kingston, Delroy Williams, as its standard-bearer for the constituency.

In a statement on Tuesday, the JLP secretariat disclosed the recommendation was made to the party’s selection committee and central executive.

It said Williams was the only applicant for the job, and he had gained widespread support in the constituency.

Williams was understood to be one of two aspirants vying to replace Lester ‘Mike’ Henry, who has indicated he will not be seeking re-election.

Henry had endorsed the other aspirant, May Pen mayor, Joel Williams. But in a letter bearing the names of Henry, Mayor Williams, and JLP councillors Tanya Lee Williams, Kenneth Davis, and Lorraine Green Mason, the Central Clarendon Labourites do not seem to be accepting of the party’s decision.

Nationwide has seen a copy of the letter. It says, in part, that the people of Central Clarendon are angry.

It says the JLP leadership has disrespected the constituents and Mike Henry by imposing Delroy Williams without properly engaging constituency delegates and supporters.

It accuses the leadership of parachuting the former Kingston mayor in instead of allowing the people to decide.

The letter says Delroy Williams is a failed candidate, pointing to his failure to win control of the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation in the last local government elections.

Calls by our news centre to Misters Henry and Williams on Thursday went unanswered. Calls to councillors Williams and Green Mason were also unanswered.

No number was listed for Davis.