The Progressive Labour Party has opted to issue no further comment on the leaked audio from the party’s Central Committee meeting but that’s not stopping the party’s Chairman Damon Wade from addressing party members.

In a letter sent out via email to PLP members this weekend, Mr Wade made it clear that he has no intention of stepping down despite the call for his resignation by the party’s Executive.

He also told members that the Deputy Leader of the party “has side-stepped the spirit of the constitution to pedal the will of the Executive.

The email, dated December 28, 2019 states:

“Today you would have received a meeting notice from the Deputy Leader of the Party. Once again, the Deputy has side-stepped the spirit the constitution to pedal the will of the Executive and the Premier to further undermine the Chairman of the Party. The Deputy is fully aware of my responsibilities as it relates to Central Committee (CC) meetings.

“As such; he reached out to me for me to agree to calling an Emergency Central Committee Meeting. His justification for such a meeting was as follows; “As you all are now aware, there was breach of confidentiality within Central Committee including the release of an unofficial recording of the Chair’s Report to the media & the wider public. Members of Central Committee & Branch Executives are justifiably demanding that the Executive provide clarity on these matters.”

“However; having already sent out his notice he is telling me that, “The purpose of the meeting will be for the Executive to provide CC with a report on the Special Executive meeting held on Thursday,  December 19.” Members should know that this should have been done before they sent their unauthorized response to the Royal Gazette earlier this week and represent yet another example of how he is acting “out of order”.

“That said, we do need to have a Special Central Committee Meeting to address several issues including but not limited to:

  • The Actions of the Chairman – during the December 9th, 2019 meeting
  • The Actions of the Ministers and the Premier – regarding the complaints made by the Chairman
  • The Actions of the Executive – during the Emergency Executive Meeting on December 19th, 2019
  • The Actions of the Executive – regarding their press release.

Given the holidays are upon us (and many of us are overseas) it makes more sense to me to have the Special Central Committee Meeting the same night as the Reconvening of the Delegates, January 6th, 2020. Once we adjourn the Reconvening meeting, we can commence with the Special Central Committee business.

I am confirming that there will be no official Central Committee Meeting on December 30th, 2019.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I hope you enjoy the rest of the Holiday Season!”

What all of this means in terms of whether or not there will in fact be a CC meeting on Monday – time will tell.