In a move aimed at ensuring party unity as it moves into the final phase of its general election campaign, the ruling Jamaica Labor Party (JLP) has called off internal party elections which were slated to be held this Sunday.

Party sources who spoke with the Observer explained that the move was aimed at preventing possible friction within the party as it prepares to do battle with the People's National Party (PNP) in parliamentary elections slated to be held by the end of next month. JLP General Secretary Senator Aundre Franklin confirmed that the planned internal elections had been put off until further notice. He said the move stemmed from a decision of the party's Standing Committee, at its meeting on Monday. News emerged this week that deputy chairman of the party Robert Montague — the agriculture minister — was nominated to challenge incumbent Mike Henry for the powerful post of party chairman.

It was also reported that the powerful Generation 2000 — the young professional arm of the JLP — had thrown its support behind Montague in what observers say was a move to rid the party's hierarchy of Henry, whose style has allegedly infuriated members of his own party at times. Henry, who is the member of parliament for Central Clarendon and the Minister of Transport and Works, is often described as one who wields immense influence within the labor party. In recent days, he has been under intense pressure as a result of the tabling of a damning report on the management of the multibillion-dollar Jamaica Infrastructure Development Program (JDIP), which was up go last week administered by his ministry.

In a report tabled in Parliament last week, Auditor General Pamela Monroe-Ellis said the Ministry of Transport and Works — together with the National Works Agency (NWA) and the Road Maintenance Fund, which has the responsibility for the implementation of the JDIP — had not executed the programme in a transparent manner. "This is evidenced by inadequate capital project planning, monitoring and record keeping," Monroe-Ellis said. "The deficiencies highlighted in this report threaten the Government's objective to achieve its goal to improve the country's road infrastructure under the Preferential Buyers Credit Facility with the Chinese Ex-IM Bank."

In one of her findings, Monroe-Ellis said contrary to the provisions of the Government's procurement guidelines, the NWA used the sole source method to award a contract to China Harbor Engineering Company for approximately $102 million to refurbish its corporate offices, without the required approval of the National Contracts Commission. In a swift move, which was applauded by the country's civil society groups, Prime Minister Andrew Holness intervened and removed the controversial JDIP program from the portfolio of the Transport and Works minister, and temporarily assumed responsibility for the program. He also ordered an independent probe into the road project.

Patrick Wong, the chief executive officer of the NWA, was also asked to resign. The Opposition PNP as well as political commentators have not relented in their call for the prime minister to sanction Henry by removing him from the Cabinet.