Finally bowing to the pressure of more than a dozen years of internal wrangling and fights, Edward Seaga last night announced that he will step down as leader of the Jamaica Labour Party in November, after three decades at the helm.
"The timing would allow a new leader to consolidate the JLP in 2005 before the local government elections of 2006," Seaga said.Last night's announcement was likely to intensify the already strong jockeying for the post-Seaga leadership of the JLP, of which Bruce Golding, the party's chairman and de facto leader of its so-called reformist wing, is considered to be the front-runner.
His intention to leave at the time of the party's next annual conference began to circulate late last week after he told his closest associates of his plan, and was hinted at in a Sunday Observer story which quoted one JLP insider as saying that a major announcement by the party leader was imminent.
"Mr Seaga wants to leave and has indicated that much to a minute number of selected lieutenants," a JLP source told Observer reporter Erica Virtue on Friday. "He was going to serve notice of departure and tell the meeting (on Sunday) that he will not be seeking re-election in November."
Seaga in last night's statement said he had advised six members of the parliamentary group of his plan at a private meeting on June 23 - a week ago.
But the idea of an early departure by Seaga was quickly ridiculed by his opponents when the Observer canvassed opinions on Saturday. They saw the rumour as a ploy by the wily leader to buy time for himself.
Last night Seaga, 74, said that he had intended to announce the decision at last Sunday's controversially postponed meeting of the JLP's Central Executive and would have done so at the next one on July 18, except that the information began to leak out.
EDWARD SEAGA
1930: Born in Boston, US, to Jamaican parents
Educated at the Wolmers Boys' in Kingston, and Harvard University in the United States.
Political career
1959: Nominated to Legislative Council
1962: Elected MP for Western Kingston
1962 - 1967: Minister of Development and Social Welfare
1967 - 1972: Minister of Finance and Planning
1974: Became leader of the Jamaica Labour Party and Opposition Leader
1980: Became prime minister after beating Michael Manley's PNP in a bitterly fought election
1989: Lost general election to Michael Manley's PNP and has been leader of the Opposition since.
Seaga got married to Mitsy Constantine (Miss Jamaica 1964) in 1965 and had three children - Annabella (daughter); Andrew (son); and Christopher (adopted son). The couple divorced in 1995.
In 1996 he married Carla Frances Vendreys. The couple have one child - Gabrielle, born September 2002.
