3 months ago
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Opposition Leader Mark Golding offered jilted caretaker for Central Kingston, Lawrence Rowe, appointment to the senate, membership to the board of a housing agency along with $15 million in resources, if in return, Rowe would withdraw his decision to resign from the People’s National Party’s, PNP, shadow cabinet.
The explosive claims, outlining the chronology of events which led to Rowe being booted as PNP caretaker in Central Kingston, were outlined by the man himself in a Facebook post over the weekend.
Rowe had strenuously denied claims the PNP was making efforts to remove him as its standard-bearer in a seat the party must win to reclaim Jamaica House.
He even went as far as to tell our news centre, on the record last week, that he was secure in his position in the buildup to the next general election.
But after the party confirmed that he was no longer their guy in Central Kingston, Rowe took to social media to spill the beans on the backroom wheeling and dealing that the PNP engaged in to try and keep a lid on his removal from the seat.
More in this report from George Davis.
Lawrence Rowe outlined a series of events dating from December 6 last year to January 11 this year.
He noted how after the constituency was assessed as getting a passing grade, the general secretary, Dr Dayton Campbell, contacted him on December 20, asking for a list of people who did not want him to continue as caretaker in Central Kingston.
Rowe said he provided the list and also complained to Dr Campbell about how his efforts to prepare the seat for a PNP win were being frustrated by the withholding of resources and the lack of sincerity of comrades in the KSAMC.
He says those allegations were refuted by Dr Campbell.
Rowe says he subsequently met with his detractors on December 27, at a meeting attended by PNP chairman, Dr. Angela Brown Burke, and deputy general secretary, Wensworth Skeffrey.
He says he was informed at that meeting that the PNP’s National Campaign Committee had decided to remove him as caretaker in Central Kingston.
Rowe says a day later, December 28, he resigned from the PNP’s deputy shadow cabinet. He says that on December 30, he met with Dr. Campbell who attempted to negotiate his, ‘transition’.
Rowe says Dr. Campbell offered him the role of deputy spokesman on education and $15 million.
He says he declined that offer and counter proposed that he be given appointment to the senate along with appointment to a housing agency and $15 million.
He says Dr. Campbell informed him that he would take the counter offer to the party leader, Mark Golding.
Rowe said on the same day, December 30, Dr. Campbell called to inform him that Mark Golding had agreed the following:
- That Lawrence Rowe would be named as one of the opposition’s 13 senators.
- That Rowe would be appointed to the board of a housing agency
- That Rowe would be given $15 million in resources.
Rowe said Dr. Campbell added that the PNP was experiencing a cash flow crisis.
He said Dr. Campbell asked him to withdraw his letter resigning from the deputy shadow cabinet. Rowe said he would have to first discuss the issue with his team in the constituency before making that decision.
A day later, December 31, Rowe says Dr. Dayton Campbell again asked him to withdraw the resignation letter. Rowe again refused and later that same day asked Dr. Campbell to set up a meeting with Mark Golding.
Rowe says by January 8, this year, Dr. Campbell and Dr. Brown Burke, met with him and the constituency executive in Central Kingston and informed them that he was no longer the caretaker.
He says he reminded Dr. Campbell that the power to wield a veto over his caretakership rested with the party leader and that he was waiting on Mark Golding to make that decision.
He says Golding duly informed him on January 10 of the decision to end his dream of candidacy in Central Kingston.
By January 11 that decision was made public by the PNP in a statement to the media.
English (US) ·