JLP URGED TO REFRESH

Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ move to announce a by-election in the St Ann North Eastern constituency just a day after the resignation of Marsha Smith as member of parliament (MP) and state minister is being viewed by political analysts as a strategic act aimed at filling the position of finance minister.

They have, however, argued that the move is, at the same time, an indication of a human-capital deficit within the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), which they say can be remedied if more senior government legislators step down and give Holness a free hand to inject new blood into the party.

“It would certainly be the wise thing for them to step aside a year out of the election and to allow the new candidates to do some work such that when elections are called, they are able to secure victory,” political commentator Germaine Barrett asserted.

Indicative of a “purge”

A general election is constitutionally due by September next year.

Smith, a first-term MP and the junior education minister, resigned with immediate effect on Tuesday. During a post-Cabinet press briefing the following day, Holness declared a September 30 date for a by-election in the newly vacated seat in the House of Representatives. Nomination Day is September 11.

The prime minister revealed that Matthew Samuda, senator and minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, has resigned from both posts to facilitate his nomination as the JLP candidate for the constituency.

Holness further stated that he would be effecting more changes in his Government in the coming months.

“These changes are occurring at all levels of the Government. They are not only limited to the Cabinet,” he said.

Holness’ statement and subsequent actions are indicative of a “purge” as the prime minister tries to address this human-capital deficit in his search for a replacement for outgoing finance minister, Dr Nigel Clarke, argued political commentator Lloyd B. Smith.

Clarke, who is MP for St Andrew North Western, is set to leave representational politics to take up an appointment as deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund by the end of October.

“The more talented persons in his team are now aged, some are not too well, and may well be riding off into the sunset. Among the younger set that came in 2020, not many of them have shown much promise whether in terms of being a good MP or having ministerial acumen,” Smith said.

However Samuda, he said, has been poised to become a future leader of the party and is a “promising young man who is very bright and likeable”.

Said Smith, “I would want to think that it is likely that he is being repositioned, that he may well become the next minister of education, which would then allow Fayval Williams to segue into the finance ministry,” he said.

However, describing the speculation on his possible Cabinet appointment as “premature and unnecessary”, Samuda told The Gleaner that he is “solely focused on the people of North Eastern St Ann and this new journey”.

However, while accusing the prime minister of orchestrating the upcoming by-election, Mark Golding, president of the opposition People’s National Party (PNP), has indicated that it would not contest it.

“The People’s National Party is preparing for general elections to enable the people to vote in a new government and will not be contesting by-elections at this late stage in the run-up to the general elections,” Golding said in a statement.

He also described the by-election as a “slap in the face” to the people of Southern Trelawny, who have had no parliamentary representation since the resignation of former House Speaker Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert a year ago.

The constituents of Morant Bay are also being given the same treatment, the PNP contends, stating that their right to elect a councillor within 90 days of a vacancy following the death of Councillor Rohan Bryan last May had been abrogated.

In August, the Government used its majority in Parliament to pass a bill that delayed for a further 90 days the holding of a by-election in Morant Bay, citing the impact of Hurricane Beryl.

The PNP said a by-election in the division is constitutionally now due.

The death of the JLP’s Marjorie McLeod-McFarlane, of the Aenon Town division in Clarendon, on Sunday, has also left that municipal seat vacant.

Holness said announcements for other by-elections will be made “within months”.

However, the PNP has asserted that it will only contest local government by-elections, “which are due as required by law, as local government elections are not due for another three and a half years”.

Smith also expressed his concern for the “scant regard” being shown for the people of Southern Trelawny and suggested thta the constituency was not being prioritised because Holness has “bigger fish to fry”.

In the meantime, former Director of Elections Orette Fisher believes that it would be much more logical if these two by-elections were held at the same time.

“It would absolutely be more efficient from an administrative point of view to conduct both at the same time,” he said. “It would have been even more efficient if he had waited and had all three but then he has the right to call the election,” he told The Gleaner.

Meanwhile, the Electoral Office of Jamaica has declared its readiness to administer the St Ann North Eastern by-election.

“We have started our preparation for the by-election given the announcement by the prime minister,” Director of Elections Glasspole Brown said, noting that it is estimated to cost about $30 million. “The election will be conducted by, mainly, members of staff drawn from our different offices across the island.”

sashana.small@gleanerjm.com