By Omar Anderson, Gleaner Writer 


Seaga, Golding and Charles
THE JAMAICA Labour Party's (JLP) Central Executive is to meet today to decide, among other things, whether to convene an annual conference early next month.
The move to convene today's meeting of the Central Executive, the JLP's highest decision-making body outside its annual conference, was made last Monday at the party's Standing Committee.
The Sunday Gleaner was informed that one of the items on the agenda is a new date for the JLP conference this year because, according to an insider, "Golding cannot wait".
CONFERENCE POSTPONED
It is understood that a December 4 and 5 conference dates are being considered.
The original November 6 and 7 conference was postponed due to an ex parte injunction leadership contender Pearnel Charles filed nearly a month ago, questioning the authenticity of the delegates' list.
And if the Central Executive votes today to have the meeting, party insiders say a vote could also be sought to determine whether the party could trim the delegates list by 1,582 representing the number of delegates Mr. Charles is claiming were illegally added. The current list comprise 4,650 delegates.
"He (Golding) is losing steam on the ground more than you can imagine," a party insider said. "The delegates and party workers feel their 'balloons' have been busted because the conference was postponed."
PRESS BLOCK
Contacted yesterday, JLP General Secretary Karl Samuda said there was a block on party information to the press, and he could not provide detailed comment.
"At the end of the meeting (today) and depending on what happens, I will make a statement," he told The Sunday Gleaner.
Neither Mr. Golding nor his campaign manager Dr. Horace Chang, could be reached for comment yesterday.
Up to a month ago, JLP leader Edward Seaga had assumed passive leadership of the JLP, allowing the 'new' party executive to run the show. But two weeks ago, he decided he would intervene to try and save the JLP from further embarrassment.
Mr. Seaga could not be reached for comments.