Mark Wignall | Delano Seiveright and the bigger step

To accept the authenticity that “Delano Seiveright, 40, was unanimously elected vice-chairman of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) for North Central St Andrew during a packed meeting of constituency delegates in November 2024, fully endorsed by Karl Samuda and councillors Sesan Senior and Lee Clarke,” you would be on sound ground to believe that the internal competition was over.

But, of course, there is always someone else who believes that they are most suited for the better candidate title. Enter son of the powerful Tom Tavares-Finson, Christian.

A little bit of explanation is owed to you. There are two constituencies next to each other (North Central and North East St Andrew) where I frequent significantly more than others. Both of these JLP-held seats hold an upper-crust household, and also, historically, inner-city pockets of needless violence.

In the middle of last year I overheard a conversation in a bar where a bar owner was singing the praise of young Delano Seiveright. I craned my neck. “Him is a good yute and have a cool way wid young people especially in common.”

Since that time I have re-engaged in the 2025 political culture. First caveat. I have known Tom Tavares Finson since the early 2000s. I met the youngster Seiveright when he was about twenty. Most JLP supporters who talk about politics and impending elections tell me something positive about the youngster. The other common but key political factor is the rarity of anyone even saying they know Christian on many parts of Red Hills Road.

Tom, your son has a lot of work to do. Other names have surfaced in the constituency. So far, they also have nuff nuff work to do.

The talk that it is the leadership in the secretariat and maybe close party political allies of the PM pushing the narrative that the delegate vote in November 2024 did not quite settle anything is a bogus ploy to cut down Seiveright’s leadership clout and his ability to engage with constituents.

I sincerely believe that people like me ought to celebrate the quality of political leadership in the same way we acknowledge our star athletes. Seiveright’s academic qualifications and awesome leadership climb is not something to scoff at and soak in a tub of lye.

His résumé is nothing short of stunning. At only 40! He serves on four boards. In his mid-20s, under the Bruce Golding administration, he served on eight boards. But his leadership showed up long before that. Top student in his sixth form at Calabar High School. Bachelor’s degree, political science. Master’s degree, public policy and management.

EARLY SHOT IN POLITICAL GROWTH

Some may have forgotten that Seiveright played a pivotal role in the JLP’s general election campaign in 2007. That ended the PNP’s 18-year strangulation of the JLP. He went on to take up posts of adviser in the OPM and at the energy and mining ministry.

Some remember that he elevated the profile of G2K, which, in turn, propelled the next wave of awesome talent in the JLP – Matthew Samuda, Floyd Green, Marlon Morgan, Robert Chin, and a host of other young Turks.

Delano says he places as top priority delivering tangibles for the people of North Central St Andrew. Added to that is the real knowledge facing him. Ensuring a seamless evolution between Karl Samuda’s legacy and the evolving constituency needs.

In what may be a rumble to come if Seiveright wants to show his political mettle, he has to develop the tenacity to ward off political interlopers. Christian Tavares Finson and others are not showing up as serious political factors at this time.

Love him or hate him, the fact is that anyone that can hold a constituency for 45 years, including when he broke away and eventually returned and won in all alignments, is a political legend. The sort of loyalty that Karl Samuda would have stored up in North Central has its positives and its pitfalls.

NEW MOUNTAINS TO CLIMB

As the JLP begins to see mapped out before it as elections grow on the approaching horizon, I am reminded of more than a few young politicians whose modus operandi was to simply mimic the style and actions of the oldster before. Especially if close to the action was a money spigot.

When public funds find a perfect fit for filling and raiding of the pork barrel, the politics and the constituency behaviour suffer. On the other hand, I have seen youngsters, a few like Seiveright, who genuinely see themselves as change agents by committing themselves to empowering their constituents.

The 1973 election and, joyfully and to my surprise, is when I saw that many people in places like North Central and North East St Andrew were becoming tired of politically sponsored violence. It didn’t totally di,e but there was some browning of the leaves.

In the 1990s, a part of North East St Andrew, Grant’s Pen, was known by its street-level name: Guns Pen. North Central has had more than its fair share of horrible killings. There may be those who believe the best advice one could give young Seiveright, an important player in Jamaica’s vibrant tourist industry, should be to remain in the mix of the corporate/political world and seek representation in a less stressed constituency.

“That would be the easier thing to do,” said Seiveright last week.

To place on paper the talent in all areas of Jamaican life for Seiveright would occupy a few thousand words. And that is without a need for embellishment.

This is the part deserving of loud applause. And it matters little whether the talent shows up in the other party.

I envy no one who leans a little on privilege and family connections. In politics, all cards will be at play. But in fairness, I tend to fall on the side of those underscoring that leadership should be earned through merit and service, ideals of the highest order.

The monumental task facing someone like Seiveright is developing the communication module that places him on the right side of his constituents, his representation. Through good and bad times.

I can remember years ago, I was by a poolside in the very ritzy Cherry Gardens. A young JLP MP lived there. Three of us, including Karl Samuda, were seated at a round table by a well-contoured pool patio. In the space of just less than an hour, Samuda scientifically placed into slots how best to bring out the JLP vote. The only thing missing was a medical scalpel. l am certain that Seiveright must have had that master class.

Mark Wignall is a political and public affairs analyst. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and mawigsr@gmail.com.