Veteran parliamentarian and cabinet minister Lester Michael Henry has resigned leadership of the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) Central Clarendon executive committee.

Henry confirmed that he made the decision to accommodate the elevation of his protege, Joel Williams, who has been a member of the Clarendon Municipal Council and a personal assistant for almost 30 years, to become the next candidate.

Henry said that his decision Sunday not to contest the chairmanship, will allow the constituency committee to acknowledge Williams as his successor, and give him enough time to canvass for the selection of a new candidate.

"I told them that I had come to the meeting Sunday to push through his campaign, that I am coming to deal with constituency issues. But I had to tell them that I am confirming that I am not running, again," Henry said.

Henry, 87, has been the Member of Parliament for Central Clarendon since 1980, and is the longest serving Jamaican Parliamentarian with more than 30 unbroken years in the Jamaican Parliament.