Samuda’s U-turn

Karl Samuda, the long-serving member of parliament (MP) for St Andrew North Central, is likely to remain the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) representative in the upcoming general election despite previous indications that he would retire, the party has suggested.

JLP General Secretary Dr Horace Chang told The Gleaner on Friday that Samuda is reconsidering his exit, given the lack of a clear successor and the party’s desire to maintain stability in the constituency.

“He is fit enough to run, and he is indicating he may want to stay the course,” Chang said. “He wanted to demit office, but nobody has emerged. He’s thinking that he should at least do a part of the [next term].”

Samuda has declined to comment.

The revelation follows the November 2024 selection of Delano Seiveright, a senior adviser in the Ministry of Tourism, as the constituency’s vice-chairman. Seiveright was unanimously elected by JLP delegates in the constituency and was seen as a leading contender to replace Samuda.

However, Chang now suggests that the 82-year-old Samuda, who has represented the constituency since 1980, might extend his tenure to ensure a smooth transition and avoid internal discord.

“That is what is likely then … I figure so,” Chang said when asked to clarify whether Samuda will be staying on. “He’s having second thoughts about how he exits. That’s basically his position. It’s a good seat. He has served over 40 years; you don’t want too much contention when he’s going. You don’t want any reduction in the seat. We handle it the best way we can. And that’s [the way we] are looking at it now. Maybe the interest of the organisation is to let him stay for a while.”

Despite multiple meetings involving the JLP leadership and Samuda, the two sides have been unable to strike a compromise on a candidate, according to a senior party official with knowledge of the talks. The insider said the leadership prefers a representative, who, however, has not found favour with Samuda and the party does not want to risk a fight months away from a national election and damage a ‘safe’ seat.

“The strategy is to protect the leader as well and all of these safe seats and the transition presents an opportunity to have persons who will have the leader’s back whenever he needs defences down the road. Samuda is not someone you want to cross as well,” they explained.

A ‘great surprise’

The Samuda development is a stark contrast to events in November when Samuda was blindsided by Chang’s public statement that he would not be seeking re-election. At the time, Samuda described the announcement as a “great surprise” and insisted that he had been following a process to determine his departure on his own terms.

“The comment caught me totally off guard … . I wasn’t aware that an announcement of that nature was pending … . I wasn’t aware,” he told The Gleaner then.

Samuda, who is the joint longest-serving parliamentarian in Jamaica’s history, had previously stated that he would not step aside until he found a suitable replacement.

Chang had also confirmed last year that 89-year-old Clarendon Central MP Mike Henry, who has served since 1980 alongside Samuda, will retire before the next election. However, the selection process for his successor remains ongoing.

Henry had previously indicated in 2021 that he wanted Councillor Joel Williams, now the mayor of May Pen, to take over when he demits office. However, JLP insiders have said Councillor Delroy Williams has eyes on the seat.

Earlier this month, Henry said he has not had “a change of mind” and Joel Williams remains his pick. Moves to parachute Delroy Williams into the ‘safe’ Clarendon seat are being seen by some senior Labourites as an attempt to secure Holness’ leadership of the party. Delroy Williams, a Holness loyalist, represents a division in Holness’ St Andrew West Central constituency.

jovan.johnson@gleanerjm.com