Seaga sought meeting with G-G

LAST week the Jamaica Labour Party released a series of correspondence between Opposition Leader Edward Seaga and Governor-General Sir Howard Cooke.

The letters indicated that Mr. Seaga had been seeking a meeting with the Governor-General to discuss the matter of the Commission of Enquiry into the July violence in west Kingston. The Governor-General did not facilitate the meeting.

On July 25, Mr. Seaga wrote:

"In keeping with the views expressed in my letter to you this morning, I enclose herewith our proposed amendments to the Prime Minister's Terms of Reference...

"I would be pleased to meet with you to discuss our amendments which consist of additions."

On July 30: "I heard on the news last night that today you propose to name the Commissioners for the Commission of Enquiry...

"I find this most surprising as no contact has been made with the Opposition to discuss the proposed names before announcement..."

On August 8, Mr. Seaga wrote to the Governor-General again: "I was today shocked that the Prime Minister announced the membership of the Commission of Enquiry as well as the Terms of Reference...

"This announcement has come whilst I am still awaiting you contacting me as promised in our telephone conversation."

On August 8, The Governor-General wrote informing Mr. Seaga of the appointment of the three Commissioners and of amendments to the Commission's Terms of Reference. These amendments took into consideration the proposals made by the JLP in Mr. Seaga's letter of July 25.

On August 9, Mr. Seaga wrote: "I am extremely disappointed that the persons already publicly announced by the Prime Minister as Commissioners of the Commission of Enquiry have been accepted by you for appointment without consultation with me as was promised by you.

"Your promise was to consult with me and not 'to keep me informed'."

On August 10 , the Governor General responded to Mr. Seaga: "Unfortunately, the relevance of the matters raised in the letters has been overtaken by time, as the Members of the Commission have already been appointed.

"Should you, however, have information that you think will be helpful, will you be good enough to let me have that information at your earliest convenience."

On August 14, Mr. Seaga was quoted on a local radio station as saying he would not be responding to the Governor-General's invitation to write to him outlining objections to the appointment of the Commission: "I have not told him that I have refused (to write to him again) but I do not intend to do so ...

"I will not demean the position of the Leader of the Opposition as Her Majesty's Loyal Leader of the Opposition who cannot be consulted with by Her Majesty's representative in Jamaica. The Governor-General clearly does not understand the role of his office, and he is being advised and taking the advice from others when the law clearly gives him the discretion to name the Commissioners."

On August 15, The Gleaner's headline read "Seaga spurns G-G,"; a subsequent editorial on August 16 disapproved of the Opposition Leader's handling of the situation and his public lambasting of the Governor-General who is the Head of State.

Up to press time Sir Howard could not be reached by The Sunday Gleaner to comment on the matter of his refusal to meet with Mr. Seaga.

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