NDP Leadership Turmoil:- Stalwart challenges Hon Walwyn’s title as Chairman
According to the NDP stalwart, in his opinion, Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL), remains the substantive Chairman and Leader of the party until the proverbial ‘baton’ is turned over formally and Hon Walwyn, is officially inaugurated as party Chairman.
Chairman Elect
Mr Turnbull was at the time a guest on radio programme, Honestly Speaking, with host Mr Claude O. Skelton Cline, on November 20, 2018, and was adamant, Hon Walwyn is, and should be recognised as 'Chairman Elect,' until such time, he is fully inaugurated and formally assumes the role.
He said, “a chairman was selected in my view…the problem with the Chairman is the people start to name the Chairman Co-leader,” and argues, there is no such thing as a co-leader.
Explaining his rational, Mr Turnbull said after the Premier Smith announced he would not be contesting the post of Chairman to continue as leader the party, “then in my opinion there was need for election to select a chairman.”
Mr Turnbull conceded, while his view is without the assistance of the party’s constitution, he is of the firm view that it is only when Premier Smith walks off the post officially, or that it is formally handed over then, Dr Smith remains the Chairman of the party.
Adamant, Dr Smith and Hon Walwyn, cannot be co-leaders of the party, he questioned if Hon Walwyn is in fact the NDP Chairman, what role then does the Premier holds. He suggests, Dr Smith, is not ordinary member, “he is Chairman, until the Chairman elect assumes the post.
Internal Turmoil
Speaking directly to the internal turmoil with which the party has been plagued in recent months, Mr Turnbull suggested, “what has happened to my party is a difference in philosophy, there is a difference in ideology that has crept in, in the party….and right now as I see it, there is a little question of leadership that I think has emerged.”
He was quick to concede, the reality is that the party, “is going through this thing about who deh like and who deh want.”
Dismissing the relevance of whether the election was fair or not, Mr Turnbull spoke to the public perceptions and outright public disagreements with the man identified to lead the party.
“We are in turmoil, no matter what people say we are in turmoil,” Mr Turnbull said and opined that since it is the NDP government that is running the country then inherently the county must be effect.
He was adamant “Election is what will solve this whole thing…that’s the answer there is no other answer than elections.”
17 Responses to “NDP Leadership Turmoil:- Stalwart challenges Hon Walwyn’s title as Chairman ”
What I have experienced in the territory is that the outgoing leader remains in the position until the General Election. That is incomprehensible. What is more alarming is the disunity that developed after Hon. Walwyn was elected. Prior to the NDP election, there was a similar scenario in the V.I.P. Hon Fraser was reluctant to hand over the position of Leader of the Opposition to Hon. Fahie .
The procedure of leadership in the House of Assembly is done by the respective parties whether on the government side or the Opposition, informing His Excellency the Governor of the desire of the respective parties. Once the parties inform the Governor of their desire, then the Governor will act accordingly and appoint the Premier or the Leader of the Opposition.
The General Council pf the party is the highest decision making body of the party and once that party conducts the internal election and whoever is successful, then the party will inform His Excellency the Governor of the decision of the party and the matter will be resolved.
I am still of the opinion that the leadership of the N.D.P leaves much to be desired. Again if during the N.D.P internal election Hon Myron Walwyn was elected as the party leader, he should have been given the opportunity to lead the party and he doesn't have to wait until the Hon. Premier serve out his full term tot General Election. For example when Bruce Golding of Jamaica resigned as J.L.P party leader and leader of the opposition Hon. Andrew Holeness was elected as J.L.P leader and served as the opposition until the General Election.