Daryl Vaz wants JLP colleagues to set aside differences

Daryl Vaz, the opposition Jamaica Labour Party’s Member of Parliament for the constituency of West Portland,  has urged his Party to use the impending leadership challenge, to dispel the perception that internal elections cause irreparable splits in the Party.

He called on colleagues to set aside their personal preference of candidate and allow and facilitate access to their constituencies for the contenders to meet and share their vision with delegates.He said that he would be indicating this formally to the Party, as it relates to the 85 delegates in his constituency.  

Vaz also expressed disappointment with the utterances from senior leaders in the Party on the weekend, which he says sets the wrong tone and  example for the over 5,000 delegates, who will make the ultimate decision in any impending leadership race in November.

As party officials prepare for the possibility of a leadership race a three-member internal electoral commission was established on Monday to put plans in place for a possible election after former finance minister Audley Shaw announced his intention to challenge former prime minister Andrew Holness for leadership of the party.

The Commission, formed at the weekly meeting of the party’s Standing Committee late Monday, will be chaired by Queen’s Counsel George Soutar with veteran politician Derrick Smith and attorney Tom Tavares-Finson, the other members.

Party insiders say that the election between Shaw, a JLP deputy leader and Holness could take place ahead of the party’s annual conference in November.