JLP Moving to Settle Representation in Five Constituencies

The selection of Jamaica Labour Party, JLP, standard-bearers for at least five constituencies remains unsettled ahead of the general election constitutionally due by September.

JLP general secretary, Dr. Horace Chang, says a process of evaluation is underway in the seats to determine the best representative in the election.

Daina Davy has the details.

In Central Clarendon, veteran member of parliament, MP, Mike Henry, has decided he will not be seeking reelection. The 89-year-old has held the seat for 45 years, since 1980.

He has endorsed Mayor of May Pen, Joel Williams, to be his successor.

But, on Monday deputy general secretary of the JLP, Senator Delroy Williams, confirmed that he too has applied to represent the party in Central Clarendon.

It means a battle of the Williamses is brewing.

According to JLP general secretary, Dr. Horace Chang, consultations to settle that seat have begun.

A similar battle is brewing in North East Manchester, where longstanding MP Audley Shaw, the self-styled ‘Man-A-Yaad’, will not be seeking reelection. He has served as MP for 31 years.

In 2024, Shaw endorsed councillor for the Craighead division, Omar Miller, as his replacement. But, principal of Holmwood Technical High School, Hidran McKulsky, is also vying to represent the JLP in the constituency.

The educator has said he’s undeterred by Shaw’s endorsement of Miller.

Dr. Chang told Nationwide This Morning that both contests will be settled by March 1.

Meanwhile, over in North West Clarendon, former government Senator Warren Newby is the early favourite to replace Phillip Henriques as the JLP’s standard-bearer in the constituency.

Henriques, who won the seat at the 2020 general election, has told the party he’s not interested in seeking reelection. This, he says, is due to personal and business considerations.

Newby is set to face a strong challenge from attorney-at-law, Corey Dunkley.

Dr. Chang, says there are some good young men keen to stand for the party in the seat.

Meanwhile, in South Manchester, the MP Robert Chin is unpopular with some labourites who believe the party must install a stronger representative to battle against the People’s National Party’s Peter Bunting.

Although delegates recently voted to retain him, Dr. Chang says the seat remains unsettled.

Dr. Chang says similarly in Western Westmoreland, the ability of MP Moreland Wilson to retain the seat is still being assessed.

Wilson narrowly won a party workers consultation, securing just over one third of the votes cast by about 100 delegates.

And, in North Central St Andrew, Dr. Chang says veteran MP Karl Samuda, at age 82, is mentally and physically up to the task and will remain on the party’s ticket if he desires to seek reelection.

Dr. Chang had reported last year that Karl Samuda would not stand for reelection.