The news that Delano Seiveright will continue in his quest to replace Karl Samuda, Member of Parliament (MP) for St Andrew North Central, in a smooth transition, caught everybody on the hop.

He dropped his bombshell on Good Friday of all days, making it memorable but also dominating what is traditionally a very quiet news day.

Delano has always been media savvy and ensured there were no other stories to take away his spotlight. He had social media abuzz and cell phones ringing the length and breadth of Jamaica.

Only last month, Delano Seiveright took the oath of office and the oath of allegiance during a swearing-in ceremony held at King’s House. He was formally proclaimed a senator together with Jamaica’s former ambassador to the United States, Audrey Marks.

Whereas Marks was delighted with becoming a senator, Delano Seiveright was evidently not. Did he have any intention of honouring that oath?

After twenty years in the JLP, Seiveright sees the bigger picture. He doesn’t want to be a perpetual “young gun” on the periphery of power. He showed his worth in orchestrating the narrow 2016 victory and did some stellar work with Generation 2000 (G2K).

He, together with Matthew Samuda and others, utilised social media and communication techniques to topple one of Jamaica’s most popular prime ministers and one of the most organised political juggernauts in the Caribbean.

Still in his early thirties, he had to be content with being a ‘senior strategist’ in the Ministry of Tourism, understudying the great Ed Bartlett. Who better to learn from?

But in the succeeding years, as his political ambitions were never sated, he did not give up on the prospect of advancement. He acquitted himself well at the Ministry of Tourism and was regarded favourably by all within the party. He is personable and agreeable and doesn’t go out of his way to make enemies.

It has been said that he was an acolyte of Audley Shaw and supported him wholeheartedly in his battle with Andrew Holness to become leader of the JLP. This may have put him on the wrong side of a young prime minister who may go on to secure three successive terms.

Undaunted, he ploughed on, but he caught the eye of the wily Karl Samuda, who has held the St Andrew North Central seat for over forty years, representing both parties. Delano Seiveright had the gumption not to be resigned to his fate but to take his destiny into his own hands. He sought out a great mentor, a man versed in the arts of Jamaican politics, a minister who has held several portfolios over the decades.

Samuda took Delano Seiveright under his wing and saw to it that he made all the right connections in the citadel which is his constituency. Now in his eighties, he no doubt contemplated his retirement but not before handing over his kingdom to a worthy successor, one that had no problem kissing the ring.

Senate president Tom Tavares-Finson has always been an Andrew Holness loyalist and stood by him in his leadership battle with Audley Shaw. He long ago gave up ambitions to make his mark in representational politics and was content to play the elder statesman of the party, albeit heading the upper House of Representatives.

His son Christian has always been the apple of his eye, following him into a legal career as an attorney. Now married with children, settled he too has ambitions to climb the ladder of Jamaican politics and emboss the name of Tavares-Finson as a political heavyweight and as a candidate to lead the JLP someday, so besting his father.

In his twilight years, if Tom Tavares-Finson could make it so he would have left a lasting legacy.

He may have sought the prime minister’s support and blessing for this enterprise, with Holness aware of the prospect of securing Christian’s loyalty in the years to come. There is considerable upside in this move.

However Christian has yet to make his impression felt in the constituency. He has to put in the work and can’t expect it to be handed to him on a plate. He has to win the people of Karl Samuda’s seat over. Perhaps he has allowed Delano Seiveright to gain too much ground. Any attempt to up the ante will only come across as perfunctory .

But how do you placate Seiveright? He has been a good soldier  and is well liked in the party. Making him a senator and a Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism should suffice. He should be happy with such honorifics.

Ambition is a strange thing. It drives people but can also destroy them …if they overreach. 

With the decision made for him by the Prime Minister, no push back was expected. He would be so brazen to take issue on this matter with the Prime Minister, particularly one that has restored glory to the JLP.

Delano Seiveright’s proclomation on Good Friday must have irked the prime minister and must have made both Tom and Christian Tavares-Finson apoplectic. Such derision on Seivright’s part must see him put inn his place.

What was particularly stinging was the part of Seivright’s statement which read, his more than two decades of service to the JLP were not the result of “family connections or privilege but built through consistent hard work and always putting people first.”

To both Tom and Christian, this is an outrage! Their plans and hopes look scuttled for now unless they can get the prime minister to intervene with a heavy hand.

Not helping matters is that Delano Seiveright has been working the constituency assiduously and has the full backing of the incumbent MP Karl Samuda said he was going nowhere and that put the matter to bed or so it seemed on the surface. Some thought he meant to carry on for at least another term which would take him to the grand old age of ninety.

It reminds one of the famous line in ‘The Godfather‘ when Don Vito Corleone says in the meeting with the Five Families, “I swear on the souls of my grandchildren, I will not be the one to break the peace we have made here today.”

Don Vito didn’t, but his son Michael did. Karl Samuda has always been shrewd. He was marginalised by the prime minister and relegated when he still has much to offer. He would have felt slighted, and by handing the safest constituency the JLP has to Delano, he may yet have the last laugh.

Hw will leave once he is happy with the transition, knowing it was by his hand and not Andrew Holness’.

 Delano Seivright now has to ride a political broncho. If he insists with his course of action and the Prime Minister is again victorious, he will be frozen out, resigned to the backbenches. Holness will not tolerate such insolence and will make him pay. It could mean at least five years in the wilderness for Delano Seiveright, MP for  St Andrew North Central. But should the JLP lose the up coming election, the knives will be out for Holness as the party deliberate on a new leader.  The young lions in the party would be expected to show their hand here. Will they go with Chris Tufton or will they chose one of their own?

Delano Seivreight’s star in the party is expected to rise if Andrew Holness is vanquished. The state Minister of Tourism is rolling the dice. Will it come up Snake Eyes?

On Easter Monday, he was particularly careful with his words and one gets the impression that he doesn’t want to incur the wrath of the Prime Minister but is willing to take that chance.

“It’s indeed a big win for the JLP, a coming victory built on unity, vision, and the right choices. We also honour the remarkable legacy of Karl Samuda whose decades of service paved the way. As we move forward together, let’s not forget the meaning of this hold Easter season-faith, renewal and purpose.”

If he hopes this will sooth furrowed brows, it will not.

Delano Seivright has withdrawn his sword from the scabbard and raised it aloft. Will the prime minister raise his also and strike him down?

By doing so he will be sending a clear message that those who do not comply with the Leader’s wishes will not be tolerated in the party and here is a clear example for those who opt to aspire beyond their station.