Henry MIKE HENRY, who is challenging Edward Seaga for the leadership of the Jamaica Labour Party at this weekend's annual conference, smells a rat... or two.
But as far as Dr. Kenneth Baugh, the JLP's general secretary, is concerned, the scheduling of two press conferences by the opposing camps, at the same time and the same venue, was just coincidental.
Both sides attempted to downplay yesterday's awkward situation just two days before Mr. Henry, a former deputy leader of the party, makes his official challenge to Mr. Seaga.
Representatives from each side said they were not aware that the other had planned its briefing for 10 a.m. at The Courtleigh hotel, New Kingston. However, there was obvious tension between Mr. Henry's team and the JLP senior officers, as they both tried to woo the members of the press, some of whom went prepared to cover Mr. Henry's news briefing only.
"I was not officially advised as to the (JLP) press conference," Mr. Henry said, while responding to questions from the press. "I impute no motive."
Even though there was a meeting with himself, officers of the party, and members of the Electoral Advisory Committee on Wednesday night, there was no mention of the JLP meeting by Mr. Henry as he prepared to outline his vision for the party to reporters at one section of the hotel.
He noted, however, that he had been told that the JLP's conference was originally scheduled for Wednesday but had been pushed back to yesterday.
Officers of the JLP, including Dr. Baugh and the party's deputy leaders, who were outlining plans for the upcoming conference this weekend, dismissed suggestions that the party had deliberately scheduled its briefing to coincide with Mr. Henry's.
"We did not know that Mr. Henry had scheduled this press conference," Dr. Baugh insisted.
He said he became aware that Mr. Henry's press briefing was going to be held at The Courtleigh only late Wednesday evening. By then, he said, the JLP had already planned its briefing as well as another function to launch a book by its Y2K group.
As it goes into its conference this weekend, yesterday's episode was seen by some people as yet another example of division within the opposition party, which has been trying to repair its image as fractious and divided.
Mr. Henry, the MP for Central Clarendon, is going up against Mr. Seaga for the top post of party leader, campaigning on a platform of radical reform of the party's structures.
Yesterday he repeated his call for term limits for the party leader and deputy leaders even as he insisted that the general secretary should not contest a seat as Member of Parliament.
Mr. Henry said that if he was not successful in Saturday's election he would still be prepared to work within the party and make his contribution to its development.
