Meadows ends ‘toxic’ ties with JLP

Dennis Meadows has quit membership of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).

The separation took effect on March 24.

In his parting shot to the JLP, Meadows disclosed that he has had “a toxic relationship with the party for the last eight years”.

A photograph of Meadows with People’s National Party (PNP) blogger Kamla Forbes has been making the rounds on social media.

Meadows was non-committal about his political future.

“I have served the JLP from the days of my youth and most of my adult life, but I cannot confirm nor deny that I have interest in becoming a member of the PNP,” he said in response to queries from The Gleaner.

A reliable source within the opposition PNP’s hierarchy in Trelawny Northern has confirmed that there have been talks with Meadows about his political ambitions.

Meadows unsuccessfully challenged Dr Patrick Harris in Trelawny Northern in 2007, polling 8,642 votes to Harris’ 10,164.

He also lost to Patrick Atkinson in the 2011 general election. Atkinson tallied 10,869 votes to Meadows’ 8,548.

On his third try in 2016, Meadows was again defeated by the PNP’s Victor Wright - by a margin of just under 500 votes. Wright polled 9,611 votes and Meadows received 9,162.

Meadows has come under scrutiny recently after being finger-pointed by Firearm Licensing Authority CEO Shane Dalling as one of several officials who, between 2014 and 2017, granted gun permits to more than 200 people with criminal convictions or adverse traces. Meadows had served as deputy chairman of the board.

Documents seen by The Gleaner also showed that Clint Rennie, Meadows’ brother-in-law, was among the more than 200 people of questionable character granted licences.

Meadows had denied wrong­doing.

Leon Jackson