No mood to talk - Portia says JLP has failed to control supporters

Published in the Jamaica Gleaner: Saturday | July 28, 2007

By: Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter

Claiming the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has failed to control its supporters, People's National Party (PNP) president Portia Simpson Miller has declared that she is no longer willing to have peace talks with the Opposition, unless those discussions are mediated by either the Church or the Political Ombudsman.

However, JLP general secretary Karl Samuda yesterday urged the Prime Minister to reconsider her decision, noting that the position taken by the PNP was not in the best interest of the country.

"I think the Prime Minister has acted hastily and needs to reconsider her position in the national interest," Mr. Samuda told The Gleaner yesterday.

"I am particularly disappointed because leadership demands that in the face of adversity and pressure one does not give up the fight for peace," Mr. Samuda said.

Mrs. Simpson Miller made her statements during a PNP political rally in the Lucea municipal car park Thursday night. Her comments came in support of PNP general secretary Donald Buchanan, who had complained about what he said was the behaviour of a group of hostile JLP supporters who had hurled abuses at members of a PNP motorcadein Hopewell, eastern Hanover, earlier that day.

No further discussions

"A group of Labourites were organised in Hopewell with all sticks, tree limbs and the police had to take away a ratchet knife from one of them," Mr. Buchanan said. "The Labour Party better understand that until they stop this path of provocation, we will not engage in any further discussion with them unless it is under the Church, or the Ombudsman."

Mrs. Simpson Miller, who took the stage shortly before midnight, more than an hour after Mr. Buchanan, said the JLP had demonstrated that it could not be trusted.

"When I saw what happened, in Hopewell, I draw a line. And I support the general secretary in what he said, because if you say something and you do not work at it, then I can't trust you," she said.

"I realise now that, while we are working hard on keeping the PNP people disciplined and not to yield to temptation, others are not in control of their supporters," the PNP President added.

However Mr. Samuda said it was anticipated that meetings held between the JLP and PNP would be under the chairmanship and guidance of the Ombudsman.

The JLP said recently that it was contemplating withdrawing from bipartisan talks involving Mr. Buchanan after he claimed the JLP was lying when it complained that its campaign team was fired on in Brandon Hill, St. Andrew.

However, Mr. Samuda said, despite Mr. Buchanan's utterances, the JLP took the decision to continue dialogue with the PNP.

petrina.francis@gleanerjm.com