Chris Tufton withdraws JLP deputy leadership nomination

Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer

Dr Christopher Tufton yesterday opted not to wait for the 'three strikes and you are out' rule to be activated in the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), as he eased out of deputy leadership contention with less than 48 hours to go before the crucial meeting of the Central Executive that could have decided his fate.

His stinging remarks during the recent leadership campaign still ringing, the beleaguered politician, already booted from the Senate and the Shadow Cabinet, and on a slippery slope as far as his retention of the post of deputy leader for Area Council Four goes, threw in the towel.

A deputy leader since 2010, Tufton told JLP leader Andrew Holness, his political nemesis, in a letter, that after much thought and consultations, he decided that in the interest of party unity, he would withdraw his nomination for the post of deputy leader.

Described in political circles as intensely ambitious, Tufton charged, at Audley Shaw's campaign launch in Mandeville, Manchester, in September, that Holness was insecure and afraid of "bright people".

Holness prevailed in the leadership election on November 10 and by November 11, Tufton was out of the Shadow Cabinet.

Tufton's move paves the way for a new deputy leader to be elected in Area Council Four, which comprises Trelawny, St James, St Elizabeth, and Westmoreland.

ELECTIONS TOMORROW

James Robertson, the other deputy leader whose nomination is under the microscope, should know his fate at tomorrow's meeting, when elections for chairman, general secretary, and their deputies will be held.

Tufton is no stranger to controversy as he accompanied Golding to form the National Democratic Movement before returning with his mentor ahead of the 2002 general election.

Tufton told Holness that he harboured "no desire to prolong the divisive and rancorous conflict" threatening the party's progress and which runs counter to the best interests of the country.

He stressed that he was still a member of the JLP and was "staunchly" committed to the process of unifying the party as it seeks to regain state power in pursuit of a national development agenda for Jamaica.

"This is my paramount interest and has been throughout my tenure in this great party," Tufton said.