Seiveright and Tavares-Finson withdraw applications to represent JLP in North Central St Andrew

Delano Seiveright and Christian Tavares-Finson have formally withdrawn their applications to be selected as the Jamaica Labour Party's candidate for North Central St Andrew, the party's secretariat has announced.

The party's Central Executive was reportedly advised of the development during its meeting on Sunday.

The JLP says the men's withdrawal of their applications will allow for a resetting of the process of finalising a candidate and follows a review by the party.

The JLP secretariat says it will conduct a consultation with key stakeholders, including the executive and workers of North Central St Andrew in the coming weeks as it restarts the process of finalising a candidate within the rules of the party.

It says North Central St Andrew member of parliament Karl Samuda remains chairman of the constituency during the process of finalising a candidate.

Tensions escalated within the party last week, over claims that the leadership was plotting to sideline Seiveright in favour of Christian Tavares-Finson. There were threats of street protests emerging in the JLP stronghold of North Central St Andrew just months before the general election expected by September.

Veteran political powerbroker Pauline Samuda revealed that Seiveright’s April 18 public announcement of his interest in the seat was strategically timed to pre-empt the rollout of Tavares-Finson, son of Senate President Tom Tavares-Finson, as the party’s pick to succeed her husband, Karl Samuda, who has hinted that he may retire after holding the seat since 1980.

On Monday, Seiveright’s campaign was abruptly paused following a tense meeting with JLP General Secretary Dr Horace Chang at the JLP’s Belmont Road, St Andrew, headquarters, where green-clad workers and supporters from North Central confronted Chang over the junior tourism minister’s apparent sidelining.

By Tuesday, Seiveright issued a statement saying: “This is not a withdrawal. Far from it. It’s simply a moment to allow the party the space it needs to move forward in unity and strength.”

While Chang confirmed to The Gleaner on Tuesday that Christian Tavares-Finson had formally applied, he said that Seiveright merely submitted a “letter of interest” but “hasn’t really applied in the formal sense”.

Mrs Samuda disputed that, insisting that Seiveright’s application was submitted via her husband as required due to his status as sitting MP.

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