By-election looms - Charles Sr confirming resignation today; Morgan in pole position for Clarendon North Central
Published:Friday | March 6, 2020 | 12:29 AMErica Virtue/Senior Gleaner Writer
Jamaica is in the throes of facing another by-election in Clarendon, this time to replace Pearnel Charles Sr, who has handed in his letter of resignation as member of parliament, a well-placed Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) source has told The Gleaner.
His resignation, which is expected to take effect after swearing in his son, Pearnel Charles Jr, will be confirmed today.
Charles Sr, the four-term MP for Clarendon North Central, witnessed his son winning the Clarendon South East by-election over independent candidate Dereck Lambert.
Charles Jr polled 6,846 votes to Lambert’s 741, the Electoral Office of Jamaica said yesterday of its final count.
“He still knows how to play chess, and I am sure that he made the ultimate sacrifice for his son,” said a senior political source on Thursday.
“What do I mean by that? Pearnel knew that his son could well have been pushed out by (Andrew) Holness. What you see is not exactly what you are getting. But let’s leave that for the moment. This (Pearnel’s resignation) is not a surprise to those in the know. It was part of negotiations that the daddy would go when the son came in. So all those who were waiting for a Peter and Mikael Phillips moment, it’s not going to happen,” the political source said.
That reference was in relation to the MPs for Manchester North West and St Andrew East Central. Peter Phillips is the opposition leader.
Swearing-in next week
Charles Sr, 83, has publicly indicated that he would not be seeking re-election, “will walk away after swearing in his son next week”, the source told The Gleaner.
Charles Sr had nothing to say when quizzed on Wednesday on his impending departure after he was seen rushing off to a meeting with senior government lawmakers Dr Horace Chang and Everald Warmington. It is believed that the effective date of Charles’ resignation was on the agenda.
The Gleaner has learnt that two polls conducted in the constituency by the party put Charles ahead of Holness’ hatchet man, Senator Robert Nesta Morgan, who is still expected to be his replacement.
A new MP will have at his disposal $20 million from the Constituency Development Fund.
The by-election decision could throw the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) into another political dilemma after its decision not to participate in Monday’s contest for the Clarendon South East seat. The party had argued that it would not vie for that constituency because a general election was pending in less than a year.
PNP Chairman Fitz Jackson said yesterday that the party would maintain its principled position and will not contest “serial by-elections”.
Jackson said in a press statement issued yesterday that the PNP found it “alarming and reprehensible that the Andrew Holness-led Jamaica Labour Party Government is apparently intent on wasting more taxpayers’ money in order to settle its own internal political disputes surrounding candidate selection … ”.
“The JLP’s apparent effort to force the resignation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Pearnel Charles, who is neither known to be ill nor incapacitated in any way, but simply to force another by-election, is not only unconscionable, but is also irresponsible,” he said.
A by-election would cost around $25 million.
Jackson said that that money could be better spent on preparing the country for the emergence of the novel coronavirus.
However, the Gleaner source said the PNP was “trying to protect Phillips from embarrassment, while Holness is setting himself up as a political czar. What you are looking at is an exact replica of Seaga”.
Advice was offered by the source to the Opposition.
“There are still some people with sense in the PNP. Somebody will need to make the ultimate sacrifice like Pearnel did. Maybe then, they will have a chance,” the source said.
A general election is due in 2021 but is widely expected to be held this year.