Tensions are running high and divisions are once again opening up in the People’s National Party (PNP) following the sudden resignation of Member of Parliament (MP) for St Catherine North Western, Hugh Graham, from the Mark Golding-led Shadow Cabinet.
In fact, some PNP stalwarts say Graham should reisgn forthwith after he did not rule out crossing the floor to the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) during an interview on Beyond the Headlines on RJR FM hosted by Dionne Jackson Miller on Monday.
“Hugo (Hugh Graham) is nothing but a traitor. He should leave Manley party!” declared a senior PNP politician, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
“He has not been doing much work, to my knowledge, in the constituency, and comrades have been contacting members of the (party) hierarchy to let us know that they are not pleased with his leadership. So rather than address those concerns by his own constituents, he runs to social media with drama. He should quit as a PNP MP once and for all,” said the politician.
Graham has reportedly been at odds with members of the PNP hierarchy for months, but things escalated when the party went ahead and held a meeting in the constituency on Sunday, despite voicing his objection to such a meeting.
The embattled MP was reportedly of the view that the constituency was not ready for such a meeting at the time.
Then came his resignation as Opposition Spokesman on Commerce, Science and Technology with immediate effect on Monday.
In a post on his Facebook page, Graham shared a letter he wrote to PNP President, Mark Golding.
The letter was copied to the PNP General Secretary, Dr Dayton Campbell and the Chairman of the St Catherine Municipal Corporation, Norman Scott.
In the letter, Graham said he was resigning from some of his official roles.
Along with his resignation as Councillor for the Lluidas Vale Division, Graham said he was stepping down with immediate effect as Opposition Spokesman on Commerce, Science and Technology.
Some PNP officials say Graham was technically not the Lluidas Vale Councillor, as he was elected MP and had not been attending sittings of the St Catherine Municipal Corporation.
“Hugo (Hugh Graham) cannot dictate to the party hierarchy what and what not to do. If a meeting is held in the division, he had the option of not attending, but being dramatic by resigning from a division he was, technically, no longer the councillor is ludicrous,” said the senior PNP politician.
Another longstanding member of the party alleged that Graham has not been doing much work in the constituency.
“He (Graham) can resign if he wishes, but frankly, he means the PNP and party president Mark Golding no good by his actions, especially when we are doing the work to heal the party and even when the PNP numbers in the recent Don Anderson polls were looking good,” he said.
He added: “That interview he gave on radio has done more damage, and he should just do the right thing and leave the PNP, and let the right candidate be the standbearer for the seat.”
PNP bloggers have already began attacking Graham on social media for his resignation announcements.
One such blogger is Kamla Forbes, who did not mince words in taking an indirect swipe at Graham.
“Not even the Lamborghini mek u bigger than the party sir. U answer to the party leader not the other way around. Yuh too outa order. Yuh think the party leader a bwoy fi yuh? Look how yuh mash up Bobby good good seat,” she posted on her Facebook page.
“Expect a few more resignations and temper tantrums when they can’t get their way…. God a fix PNP little by little and lif up every last one a unnu whe a hold down the party. #lifup,” she added.
Hugh Graham was first elected as Councillor for the Lluidas Vale Division on December 5, 2007, winning 68 per cent of the votes.
The secretariat of the PNP has acknowledged Graham’s notice of resignation and said it will issue a statement later.
