Barbados Today

KINGSTON – Jamaica Labour Party leader

Andrew Holness last evening stridently defended his

stewardship at the helm of the party.

Noting that he has been nothing but a good leader,

Holness said those criticising him of being a laissezfaire

leader were always privy to his plans

for the party.

The party leader told a gathering at yesterday’s JLP

Area Council One meeting that he had outlined a clear

strategy for the 70-year-old political movement to take

back the Government after its massive defeat at the

polls in 2011.

He said he refused to engage in what he described

as the “rae-rae politics” and decided to work on the

party’s fundamental issues.

“I took a different strategy as leader of the party,

instead of making a whole heap a noise, we took the

time, and we organised,” he said.

Holness said this was an attempt to appeal to the

independent members of the electorate.

Appealing to the JLP delegates, Holness implored

them to question, between him and his challenger,

Audley Shaw, who would be better at attracting that

section of the population that usually stays away from

the polls.

“Ask yourselves who would be best at getting the

uncommitted votes in this country. If you really want

to win, then you need to ask yourselves who really can

bring uncommitted voters to the Jamaica Labour Party

… who really represents the transformation that the

entire Jamaica is looking for,” Holness noted.

Meanwhile, speaking at the meeting at the Girl’s

Guide Headquarters in Kingston, JLP treasurer Karl

Samuda said he broke ranks as an executive member

of the party to attend the area council meeting to

endorse Holness.

Samuda said he was compelled to do this, as he

believes that Holness is the best candidate to lead the

party at this time.

Dismissing criticisms that he does not have “winability”,

Holness noted that history had proven that he

had what it takes to stave off any challenge, and he was

shocked by news of a leadership race.

“When I heard the rumours that there were

thoughts to contesting the leader, challenging the

leader, I said ‘this cannot be true’ because collectively

at the leadership of the party, at the level of the

shadow cabinet, we ah agreed on a strategy going

forward,” he said.

Samuda said the current challenge has derailed this

strategy, which was to accelerate the party’s attack on

the People’s National Party when they were at their

weakest. (Jamaica Gleaner)