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Some say Delano Seiveright bent the knee to a higher power and was made to see that he would have to curb his ambition and make way for Christian Tavares Finson.

Then there are those who surmise it is more prudent to persuade Karl Samuda to suit up one more time and deliver the victory in what is expected to be a tight general election later this year.

Delano Seiveright has decided to suspend his campaign to replace the veteran Karl Samuda in the North Central St Andrew seat. The immediacy of this decision, given his unrelenting campaigning efforts since Good Friday, is surprising. He has changed his tune in less than three weeks! 

 Now he’s gone from Good Friday to Give-up Tuesday, or rather Make-way Tuesday…haha. 

The JLP high command had remained silent on Seiveright’s bold move to defy them all and press ahead with his ambitions. They knew all along that they would bring this puppy to heel. It was a bold declaration on Good Friday and it was one of defiance of the Prime Minister and the party elite. Seiveright may have calculated that with Samuda’s support, he was guaranteed to win the seat and become a power player within the party. But he played his hand too soon and now looks like a political neophyte.

One gets the impression, Andrew Holness favours Christian Tavares Finson for that seat and sees his ascension as a reward for his father, the Speaker of the Senate, Tom Tavares Finson’s loyalty to him. Tom supported Holness in his battle with Audley Shaw for the leadership of the JLP. Politics is about repaying favours, make no mistake about that. Seiveright was always a hindrance.

Andrew Holness is shrewd and has political savvy. In order to placate Seiveright, he made him a Senator and also a Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism. There was the hint of a promise that he may one day succeed one of the best Ministers of Tourism Jamaica has ever had, Ed Bartlett. Seiveright would spend some time learning from the Great Man. But that wouldn’t do for Seiveright- his dreams spurred him on.

 He needed to think this through.

Defy the Prime Minister, and there is the distinct likelihood you would be left in the wilderness-cold and alone, waiting perhaps a decade for an opportunity to come along. If  Holness successfully brings home the next general election, you would have incurred his wrath.

Then he may have thought, if Holness is defeated, he could be part of a new leadership cadre who could reset the JLP and render Holness’ legacy into the historical dustbin. The younger lion takes down the older lion. Seiveright has always been deferential to the Prime Minister and has gone out of his way to sing his praises- but this is politics- man speak with forked tongue!

This decision today makes clear that someone dragged Seiveright into the Principal’s office by his ear and told him to behave and go  sit in the corner. He dutifully complied. Delusions of grandeur must now go into his back pocket.

His statement was carefully worded: “ After careful thought and discussion, I’ve made the decision to pause the campaign. This is not a withdrawal, far from it. It’s simply a moment to allow the Party the space it needs to move forward in unity and strength.

“I’m truly grateful for the incredible support, encouragement and energy you’ve all shown. I don’t take it likely. But I’ve always said: no one is bigger than the Party, and certainly no one is bigger than Jamaica. This pause is about staying focused on the bigger picture, ensuring we’re united, disciplined, and ready for the work ahead.

“I remain fully committed to North Central St Andrew and to all of you. My heart is in this, and I’m still here, serving, listening and working with you every step of the way.

“Respect and gratitude always.”

He needed to apply this thinking last month before he threw down the gauntlet.

What the JLP needs from Seiveright is to utilise his communication and media skills, to work in conjunction with Matthew Samuda and Abka Fitz-Henley to put in place a strategy to win at the ballot box. He was very effective in 2016. He can be so again in 2025. He must let some time pass, and place himself in Holness’s good book. He must learn to temper his ambitions and not telegraph them.  There is no doubt that Delano Seiveright is an asset to the JLP but he has to know there is always a pecking order.

If Christian Tavares Finson is going to be the standard bearer for North Central St Andrew, he must assiduously work the constituency rather like Seiveright has done. He will have to get his Clarks and Ferragamo’s dirty. He has to show he is worthy of filing Karl Samuda’s shoes. He has to shatter the notion that he is a nepo baby riding on his daddy’s political connections. 

Who knows, Seiveright may even help and campaign with him now- two young guns working together for the good of the party. Now after three say-Ahhhhh.

Karl Samuda may have taken Delano under his wing and that may have emboldened him. The reality is he would have to get sign off from the party leaders and they never endorsed him.

Delano Seiveright is right to step away and let things play out. He will have his moment in the sun someday. Time is still on his side.