JLP’s Longest Serving MPs, Mike Henry and Karl Samuda, Leaving Politics

Jamaica Labour Party, JLP, veterans Karl Samuda and Mike Henry say they’ll not be seeking re-election when the next general election is called.

The 82-year-old Samuda was first voted into office as the member of parliament, MP, for St Andrew North Central since 1980. The 89-year-old Mike Henry has been the leader of the Central Clarendon constituency since 1980.

General secretary of the JLP, Dr. Horace Chang, made the revelation during a media conference at the party’s Belmont Road headquarters on Thursday.

Samuda last served as labour and social security minister, resigning from the Holness cabinet in May 2023. Before service as labour minister, Samuda also served as education and agriculture minister.

Samuda has the distinction, along with Henry and Edward Seaga of the most election wins in Jamaica. However, unlike Seaga and Henry, Samuda did win the North Central St Andrew seat on a PNP ticket, after being expelled from the labour party in the 1990s.

Samuda joined the People’s National Party on the invitation of Michael Manley in 1993, but eventually returned to the JLP.

Meanwhile, Henry emerged from the 1976 campaign defeated and he was shot in the process. But he’s won Central Clarendon in consecutive elections since 1980. As a part of government, Henry has served as in the portfolios of information, tourism, culture, works, and transportation and mining.

In addition to his work in government, Henry is a fervent reparations advocate.