The evolution of the Jamaica Labour Party

Thursday, December 01, 2011

If Tuesday night's resignation of Mr Lester Michael 'Mike' Henry as minister of transport and works is seen merely only as political fodder, we risk losing the point entirely.

The greater significance of Mr Henry's departure lies in the further indication as to how the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is evolving and, perhaps, what that means for the development of the Jamaican body politic.

We felt that Mr Henry's resignation was logical and our only wonder was why it took him so long to hand in his resignation letter to Prime Minister Andrew Holness, given the rising stench over the Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme (JDIP).

That step is logical because it is in keeping with three previous steps which, in JLP terms, were monumental.

First, Prime Minister Bruce Golding did what no other JLP leader has done - give up the job voluntarily, without being ill, as was the case of the only other leader of government to step away - the People's National Party's (PNP) Mr Michael Manley in 1992. The PNP's Mr PJ Patterson also gave up the job in 2006.

Second, upon the resignation of Mr Golding, the JLP - in record time - coalesced around one leader, Mr Holness and thus avoided the well known, almost traditional leadership skirmishes, best remembered by the so-called Gang of Five saga; the beating of Mr Pearnel Charles at a party conference outside the National Arena; and the departure of Mr Golding to form the National Democratic Movement in 1995. The only skirmish related to Mr Golding's 2011 resignation, and that is if it can be called that, was the short-lived and ill-advised attempt by some party enthusiasts to have Mr Holness forego what seemed to be his birthright in favour of Mr Audley Shaw.

Third, the postponement of the internal party elections for positions, including chairman, in which Mr Robert Montague, the agriculture minister had thrown down the gauntlett to Mr Mike Henry. Clearly, This was also to avoid any frissons that could lead to disunity ahead of an imminent general election.

In that context, we had expected Mr Henry to step away the moment the JDIP scandal burst, if for nothing else but to to spare his party the trauma of defending a flawed minister, but more importantly, to do the right and honourable thing.

Mr Henry has appeared slow off the mark in the new JLP. Recall that he was absent at that historic crowning of Mr Holness and some questioned whether he still had leadership aspirations, even if that was nothing more than a pipe dream.

We don't know, but we suspect that Mr Henry was pushed. Even then, it is still a huge step to have a minister resign over alleged shenanigans at an agency under his portfolio and worse, on the eve of elections. That too, we suggest, is a symbol of the continuing evolution of the JLP which is positioning itself as the party of the future.

It is a metamorphosis that is bound to affect the People's National Party (PNP), the other major political party and with which the JLP has shared political power since Adult Suffrage in 1944.

The PNP is seemingly finding it difficult to redefine itself in the post-Manley/Patterson period. But it must if it is to continue to boast that Jamaica is "PNP country".

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COMMENTS (17)

car lindsay
12/4/2011

Let us all wait for the slap in our faces if and when the new JLP cabinet is formed and brother mike is back in it as head cook and bottle washer.

Norman Lee
12/2/2011

There is no "huge step" that Henry "resigned"! He was forced out for the same reason as Bruce - they became detrimental to the JLP's chances for re-elections - plain & simple!
And there is no stroke of genius in Andrew doing this coaxing for him to go to the back of the class - it was logical!

wanda woeman
12/2/2011

@Adam Godson, still think that Mr. Hylton was not telling the truth? We will excuse you while you go wash the egg from your face; but some of you don't have any conscience, do you?

rohan thompson
12/2/2011

St Ann, Sadly when the pressure was applied to Portia regarding Trafigura she said ask the PNP. I do agree with you though about applying pressure by the opposition.

John Smith
12/1/2011

"We felt that Mr Henry's resignation was logical." I read that far.
Well who cares now about what the Editor(s) 'felt' after the fact?
During the whole shebang the Observer Editorial space was stoically silent, and now the Editor feels the need to speak?
Thank goodness for the real watchdogs of the Jamaican media.

St. Ann
12/1/2011

The real credit should be given to the opposition (PNP) the opposition pressure, the government (JLP) into submission. The opposition’s main role and most important job are to constantly question the government. Any government has to remain answerable to the public at all times, and a good opposition can put the spotlight on serious issues and have them resolved quickly. This was the case with Bruce Golding and now Mr Henry it was the opposition that put the spotlight and pressure on them to resign.

avid equin
12/1/2011

Adam Goldsom; you clearly did not hear the unequivocal statements from the USA's ICE Public Affairs spokesperson this morning on the drugs found in a scrap metal shipment from Kingston 4 days after Mr Walker authorised containers to go out with "scrap' in contravention of the cabinet ban. Check with Emily and naomi at Nationwide News

British Deportee
12/1/2011

Perhaps voluntary departure is not quite the correct term to be used to describe the omission of Golding & Henry from the GOJ. Barring any form of blurred vision that may’ve triggered by partisan politics, wouldn’t coercion a more suitable word to be considered here? Just checking!

Jay Brown
12/1/2011

A new day is indeed dawning for Jamaica, I am happy to see politicians finally being held accountable, its about time.

J A M
12/1/2011

So when will the Police be allowed start their investigation. The longer it takes the less they will be able to find. One big whole coverup.

Mark Forbes
12/1/2011

Holness acted as the Govt's lawyer in Parliament. He was at his best on the issue of JDIP. Everyone knows that your lawyer needs the whole truth to adequately represent your case. I don't buy the insinuation that he never knew what was going on. The time for decisive action was then and if not then, then the day after he became PM. He was hoping like everyone else that the Govt. could get away with arrogantly dismissing concerns that came from all sectors of society. This is damage control.

Mark Forbes
12/1/2011

Mr Editor, Wignall and the JLP must be quite happy that it is not possible to underestimate the intelligence of the electorate. Because, in contrast to the PNP's scandals which were uncovered after the fact, 'decisive' action is now been taken on one that happened in real time. There is no question that the Govt. had ample warning to ensure everything was above board, if it so desired. No question that Holness did his part to ensure it wasn't. contd.

Mark Forbes
12/1/2011

Mr Editor, I see what you are doing here. If I was a shameless apologist for my pickpocketing friend I also would try to draw attention to his helping the little old lady cross the street, and not that in doing so he has stolen her purse.
If the 'resignation' isn't election fodder, let the Govt. state clearly that he was fired instead of insinuating that he was. Spin all you want Mr Editor, but if these 'resignations' had happened before public outcry then praise would have been deserved.

Adam Godson
12/1/2011

(contd) And in another story,the once,youthful,and currently middle aged exuberant honorable philip paulwell has made claims about large numbers of chinese laborers working on the palisadoes project, a claim which according to a reply by china harbour,as quoted in mark wignall's article this morning, is some distance away from the truth.
I guess only time will tell what is going on with these claims coming from the pnp,the party of kd knight,the man who introduced the term

Adam Godson
12/1/2011

Interesting cartoon this morning.
First mr hylton claimed that Jamaican agricultural exports to the USA were banned.
Turned out to not be the truth.
Now he has "suggested" a link between scrap metal exports and recent drug finds in the USA. According to local & foreign law enforcement,that is also not the truth.
I'm sure the goodly,honorable gentleman was just mistaken,both times and was not being mendacious,whether pathologically or not.

Adam Godson
12/1/2011

Good to see a minister lose his/her job over matters for which he/she has ministerial responsibility,whether he/she was pushed or not.
Good also that there was no attitude or indications of 'I shall return".

Ronald Brown
12/1/2011

Oh Mr. Editor you have shown your political colours in this one. Why try to appear balanced when deep down you know you are not? We the jamaican people can clearly see your colours. What is there that has changed about the JLP? Mark you he PNP doesn't seems to have anything to offer niether does the JLP. The more things change the more they remains the same. This was just another piece of write up for the JLP. I guess you will soon be appointed senator. Keep up the good work party spokesman.

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The evolution of the Jamaica Labour Party