MONTEGO BAY, St James — The three aspirants in the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) deputy leadership race for the Area Council Four have intensified their campaigning in the western region, ahead of Sunday's delegates' vote.
The incumbent deputy leader Dr Horace Chang, who is the Minister of Water and Housing and MP for North West St James is being challenged by Agriculture and Fisheries Minister and South West St Elizabeth MP Dr Christopher Tufton and Don Foote, an attorney and JLP caretaker for Eastern Westmorelandand .
Some 1,251 party delegates from Trelawny, Hanover, St James, Westmoreland and St Elizabeth are eligible to cast their ballots in the much anticipated race.
The election, to be conducted by the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ), will be held at the Green Island High School in Hanover. Voting is expected to take place between 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Chang could not be reached for a comment yesterday. But Norman Brown, his campaign director said his team will continue to meet with delegates over the next few days.
"We are very comfortable at where we are. Over the past two weeks we have been touching base with the delegates across the parishes and we will continue to do that until Sunday," Brown told Observer West yesterday.
He argued that the support for the incumbent — who was elected deputy leader for Area Council Four in 2003 — has been "very strong" in all of the five parishes which constitute the council, particularly in St James.
Mindful of suggestions that the parish could be neglected if Chang is not re-elected, Tufton has moved to re-assure delegates in St James.
"We must recognise the contributions of those who have given service to the Jamaica Labour Party yesterday and today, while preparing for the challenges that will face us tomorrow. I can assure you, the delegates of the great parish of St James that they will be fully represented within Area Council Four under my leadership, as we all move towards the future unified in the belief that we are "All Labourites..... One Team," said Tufton in a letter to delegates in St James.
St James accounts for roughly 350 delegates, about 20 fewer that St Elizabeth.
Tufton told Observer West that he decided to throw his hat in the ring in an effort to prepare the party for local government and general elections constitutionally due within the next two years.
"It is my view and the view of the Labourites with whom I have spoken, that the Area Council needs renewed focus and energy to ensure that the West is ready to lead the JLP to victory in the next set of elections ...," he said.
Local political observers say the race should be a close contest between Tufton and Chang.
But Foote who has been defeated by the Opposition People's National Party (PNP) in three consecutive parliamentary elections, believes that he will get the nod of approval from the delegates.
He argued that while the other contenders are doing "an excellent job" as far as their ministerial portfolios are concerned, either of them if elected, will not have the time to do the party's work.
"The delegates agree with me that they need someone who is not burdened with ministerial responsibility and they agree with me also, that I am the man for the party's job," Foote said.
He plans to meet with Trelawny delegates today, before moving on to Hanover tomorrow and Westmoreland on Saturday.
There are 15 parliamentary seats in JLP's Area Council Four.
The ruling party took seven of those seats in its narrow 2007 general election
victory.
BY MARK CUMMINGS
The incumbent deputy leader Dr Horace Chang, who is the Minister of Water and Housing and MP for North West St James is being challenged by Agriculture and Fisheries Minister and South West St Elizabeth MP Dr Christopher Tufton and Don Foote, an attorney and JLP caretaker for Eastern Westmorelandand .
Some 1,251 party delegates from Trelawny, Hanover, St James, Westmoreland and St Elizabeth are eligible to cast their ballots in the much anticipated race.
The election, to be conducted by the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ), will be held at the Green Island High School in Hanover. Voting is expected to take place between 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Chang could not be reached for a comment yesterday. But Norman Brown, his campaign director said his team will continue to meet with delegates over the next few days.
"We are very comfortable at where we are. Over the past two weeks we have been touching base with the delegates across the parishes and we will continue to do that until Sunday," Brown told Observer West yesterday.
He argued that the support for the incumbent — who was elected deputy leader for Area Council Four in 2003 — has been "very strong" in all of the five parishes which constitute the council, particularly in St James.
Mindful of suggestions that the parish could be neglected if Chang is not re-elected, Tufton has moved to re-assure delegates in St James.
"We must recognise the contributions of those who have given service to the Jamaica Labour Party yesterday and today, while preparing for the challenges that will face us tomorrow. I can assure you, the delegates of the great parish of St James that they will be fully represented within Area Council Four under my leadership, as we all move towards the future unified in the belief that we are "All Labourites..... One Team," said Tufton in a letter to delegates in St James.
St James accounts for roughly 350 delegates, about 20 fewer that St Elizabeth.
Tufton told Observer West that he decided to throw his hat in the ring in an effort to prepare the party for local government and general elections constitutionally due within the next two years.
"It is my view and the view of the Labourites with whom I have spoken, that the Area Council needs renewed focus and energy to ensure that the West is ready to lead the JLP to victory in the next set of elections ...," he said.
Local political observers say the race should be a close contest between Tufton and Chang.
But Foote who has been defeated by the Opposition People's National Party (PNP) in three consecutive parliamentary elections, believes that he will get the nod of approval from the delegates.
He argued that while the other contenders are doing "an excellent job" as far as their ministerial portfolios are concerned, either of them if elected, will not have the time to do the party's work.
"The delegates agree with me that they need someone who is not burdened with ministerial responsibility and they agree with me also, that I am the man for the party's job," Foote said.
He plans to meet with Trelawny delegates today, before moving on to Hanover tomorrow and Westmoreland on Saturday.
There are 15 parliamentary seats in JLP's Area Council Four.
The ruling party took seven of those seats in its narrow 2007 general election
victory.
BY MARK CUMMINGS