Vilma Baugh, wife of Dr. Kenneth Baugh, embracing her husband after Governor-General Sir Howard Cooke read and presented the Instrument of Authority to him at King's House yesterday.
-Rudolph Brown photoDR. KENNETH Baugh, Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) member of Parliament for West Central St. Catherine, was yesterday sworn in by Governor-General Sir Howard Cooke as leader of the Opposition.
The short ceremony took place at King's House and was attended by several beaming Opposition parliamentarians, Dr. Baugh's wife, Vilma, and other key party figures.
Dr. Baugh, who was on Thursday selected by Opposition members of Parliament to replace former Opposition Leader Edward Seaga, promised to work with Senator Bruce Golding to ensure the smooth transition of leadership within the JLP.
"If he (Golding) is as good in politics as he is in cooking, I am sure Jamaica is going to have a very bright future," Dr. Baugh said, while accepting the symbolic instrument of authority. He was referring to a breakfast meeting yesterday with Senator Golding, who is the only candidate for the JLP leadership election scheduled for February 19.
Senator Golding, if he wins the West Kingston constituency seat also vacated by Mr. Seaga, will then have a seat in the House of Representatives and be able to take over from Dr. Baugh as leader of the Opposition.
There is no indication as to when a by-election for the seat, which must first be called by Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, will be held.
"We look forward to being in government, and we expect to be in government very shortly," Dr. Baugh said to applause from his party colleagues.
Prior to the ceremony, there was a buzz among the JLP parliamentarians who were quite upbeat about the prospects for the party's future.
IMPORTANT LEADERSHIP
During the ceremony, the governor-general gave a short pep talk to the Opposition members present, telling them that the JLP has been "one of the greatest parties in the world" and that party founder Sir Alexander Bustamante and others gave important leadership to the world.
"I am well pleased to see that the sort of difficulties that may have arisen to dog the progress are behind us," Sir Howard said in clear reference to the public squabbles that scarred the JLP throughout last year and before.
Noticeably absent from yesterday's ceremony was Mr. Seaga, who gave up politics to take up an appointment as an honorary distinguished fellow at the University of the West Indies, Mona campus.
