THERE is increasing disquiet within the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) over the selection of replacements for three, and possibly four, veteran Members of Parliament (MPs) ahead of the next general election.

The central issue sparking concern among party members is the spectre of “dynastic politics” — the idea that political power should pass down family lines, rather than earned on merit.

At the JLP’s 81st annual conference last Sunday, Chairman Robert Montague assured supporters that the party is nearing completion of its candidate list for the upcoming elections, due by September 2025.

“In terms of candidate selection and placement, we are on track with our programme. The constituencies have been reviewed, and over the coming weeks we will be consulting with you, the delegates and supporters,” Montague told the packed arena, to loud applause from party loyalists.

But not all Labourites were comforted by Montague’s comments. As the veteran MPs prepare to retire, many within the party are grappling with the question of who should fill their shoes — and whether political dynasties should be allowed to continue their legacy in the JLP.

The replacement of Karl Samuda in St Andrew North Central is among those threatening to become contentious. At least four people — Christian Tavares-Finson, Jonathan Samuda, Delano Seiveright, and Audley Gordon — have been linked to the seat. Two of the four — Christian Tavares-Finson and Jonathan Samuda — have strong familial ties to senior members of the party.

The issue of lineage is said to have also raised its head in St Andrew North Eastern, where 73-year-old Delroy Chuck is said to have introduced his daughter, Carolyn, to party workers.

This has not gone down well in sections of the party as some Labourities complain about veteran politicians wanting to create dynasties in the seats they once held.

This growing discontent was addressed by JLP Leader Prime Minister Andrew Holness at a meeting of the governing party’s Area Council 1 organisation in Pembroke Hall last month where Duane Smith was confirmed as the party’s standard-bearer for St Andrew North Western.

“In keeping with my own philosophy, there is no entitlement, nothing is owed to you because of patronage, fraternity, hereditary…nothing is owed to you, whatever you get you must merit it. You must work for it,” Holness told delegates as he underscored his belief that political power should be earned, not inherited.

Smith was recently elected MP for the constituency, a seat that had been held for 21 years by his father, Derrick Smith, who, after his retirement in 2018, had hand-picked Duane as his successor.

However, the party chose Dr Nigel Clarke, who went on to become the minister of finance. When Clarke resigned from his parliamentary seat in October this year, Duane Smith was finally given the opportunity to step into his father’s former role, securing his place as the constituency’s new representative.

In St Andrew North Central, Christian Tavares-Finson’s name has emerged as a possible contender to replace Samuda. Christian is the son of Senate President Tom Tavares-Finson, whose uncle, David Clement Tavares, is a former MP for St Andrew South Western.

While Tavares-Finson is reportedly favoured by party leaders, sources within the JLP say he is facing significant opposition, particularly from party members at the constituency level. Many are uncomfortable with the prospect of Tavares-Finson inheriting a seat, citing concerns about perpetuating dynastic politics.

The issue is also complicating the candidacy of Jonathan Samuda, Karl’s grandson, who has been introduced to the constituency as a possible successor. While some argue that Jonathan’s candidacy would ensure continuity in Samuda’s work, others within the party are concerned about the optics of powerful figures hand-picking their family members to inherit political power.

Tourism strategist Seiveright has also been named as a possible replacement for Samuda and his stocks rose last Saturday when he was unanimously elected vice-chairman of the constituency by delegates in a meeting chaired by the outgoing MP.

“Delano has a modern, progressive appeal. He’s connected to both the grass roots and the upper class, which makes him a formidable candidate,” one JLP supporter told the
Jamaica Observer.

But there has been pushback to Seiveright from some Labourities who question his ties to the constituency.

They told the Sunday Observer that their pick to replace Samuda is Audley Gordon, a former councillor for the Hughenden Division in the then Kingston and St Andrew Corporation.

Gordon served as deputy general secretary of the JLP at a time when his stocks were rising in politics before resigning to take on the role as executive director of the National Solid Waste Management Authority. He is a long-time ally of Holness and his political experience and loyalty to the party make him a strong contender.

It is not as tight in Clarendon Central where the replacement for Mike Henry could come down to a pick between the popular choice, Mayor of May Pen Joel Williams, and former Mayor of Kingston Delroy Williams.

Joel Williams has long been seen as the successor to Henry and the party’s decision to have him replace Winston Maragh as the chairman of the Clarendon Municipal Corporation following the February 2024 local government elections was seen as confirmation that he would get the job.

But Sunday Observer sources say members of the leadership of the JLP now want to transplant Delroy Williams to what is considered a safe seat for the party, a decision being met with resistance on the streets of the constituency.

In the meantime, 72-year-old Audley Shaw has confirmed that he will not seek re-election in Manchester North Eastern, which he has held since 1993.

Shaw has endorsed Councillor Omar Miller (Craighead Division) as his replacement but that decision is not getting the full support of Labourities in the constituency with some lining up behind educator Hidran McKulsky.

In an unsigned statement following Shaw’s endorsement of Miller, a group, which described itself as ‘Team McKulsky’, declared that it was not deterred by the move, as “the party’s constitution does not automatically accept endorsed individuals as its constituency standard-bearers and candidates”.

The decision on the replacements is expected in the next coming weeks, but whatever choices are made, it is clear that the leadership of the JLP will have to mend some fences if it is to put up a united front in the four constituencies in the next general election.