Politics
Potential Candidates to replace Bruce Golding
Bruce Golding the Prime Minister of Jamaica announce his resignation one week ago – he will also be stepping down as leader if the Jamaica Labor Party (JLP).
Here is a brief synopsis of each of the contenders, one of whom will become Jamaica’s ninth prime minister in November.
Audley Shaw
Audley Shaw, is the current Finance Minister and the member of parliament for North Eastern Manchester was born on June 13, 1952. He was educated at Northern Illinois University where he earned Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in Journalism with graduate studies in Marketing, Finance and Public Relations.
He is the deputy leader of the party and has also served as JLP general secretary. he has been criticised for the Finance Ministry’s handling of the public sector wage deal.
Andrew Holness
Andrew Holness, is the current Minister of Education and Member of Parliament for St Andrew West Central was born on July 22, 1972. He was educated at the University of the West Indies where he specialized in Development Economics.
As education minister, Holness has received commendation on his far-reaching policies such as his tough stance on security and safety in schools, his push to achieve 100 per cent literacy at the elementary level and his emphasis on accountability at all levels of the education system.
Dr. Kenneth Baugh
Dr. Kenneth Baugh is the current Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, deputy Prime Minister and member of parliament for St Catherine West Central was born on February 24, 1941.
He is a consultant surgeon was educated at Cornwall College and the University of the West Indies.
He is viewed as a respected parliamentarian and statesman.
Mike Henry
Mike Henry is the chairman of the JLP and is also the minister of transport and works, presiding over the multi-billion-dollar Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme (JDIP), the biggest infrastructural programme in the country’s history. He was born in June 1935.
He was educated at Beckford & Smith (now St Jago High School) and Ealing Technical College (UK).
He has been an ardent lobbyist for the return of the passenger rail service and in April of this year successfully orchestrated the return of limited rail service between Spanish Town and Linstead.
He has also consistently argued in Parliament for reparation for the descendants of slaves.
Robert Montague
Robert Montague is the current Agriculture and Fisheries minister and deputy chairman of the JLP, was educated at Mary High School before going to the College of Agriculture in Portland where he graduated as an agronomist.
He served as a councillor and chairman of the St Mary Parish Council from July 2003 to September 2007 when he was elected member of parliament for Western St Mary. He has developed a reputation as a no-nonsense legislator.
Dr. Christopher Tufton
Dr. Christopher Tufton, 43, is the current Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, and is the member of parliament for South West St. Elizabeth.
He was educated at the University of the West Indies, the University of Atlanta and the Manchester Business School in the U.K. where he pursued a Doctorate in Business Administration. Tufton is a former lecturer in the Department of Management Studies at the University of the West Indies.
One of his first major moves as minister of Industry, Investmenr and Commerce was the placement of a ban on the export of scrap metals, in response to the widescale theft of public and private property by persons in the scrap metal trade.