Derrick Smith to vie for JLP Chairman post
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) spokesman on National Security and Leader of Opposition business in the House, Derrick Smith, will be throwing his hat into the ring in the election for Chairman of the party expected to be held in December.
Speaking to ONLINE OBSERVER Wednesday morning Smith said that it was only natural to make another attempt as he ran for the post last year against Robert Montague, Delroy Chuck and Edmund Bartlett. Montague is now party Chairman.
Smith says he is unsure about who else will run this time around but is certain about what he can bring to the position.
“I have served the party in various leadership positions including Deputy Leader of Area 1 for 14 years,” said Smith who also has under his belt 33 years as a Parliamentarian and 30 years as a Member of Parliament.
Smith who is just a few days away from his 70th birthday says his greatest asset is the “maturity he will bring to the position and become an effective agent of healing at this time.”
Smith supported party leader Andrew Holness in the recent leadership challenge by Deputy Leader Audley Shaw.