Home  News Regional News PNP president calls on members
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PNP president calls on members |
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Saturday, 02 August 2008 |
KINGSTON – President of the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) Portia Simpson Miller has called on party members to preserve the integrity and protect the legacy of the 70-year-old party as it goes through another presidential contest.
Simpson Miller is being challenged for the presidency by her senior deputy, Dr Peter Phillips, whom she had previously defeated in a February 2006 four-man contest to succeed P.J. Patterson.
"Regardless of how high the stakes are, let our democracy be based on principles and be guided by honorable actions. Let us conduct ourselves in the highest traditions of vibrant internal PNP debate and put the people and the PNP first at all times," she said while addressing members at a meeting of the party's National Executive Council (NEC) at the University of the West Indies, Mona, on Saturday.
The meeting looked at, among other things, preparations for staging the election, which is expected to happening during the party's annual conference in September.
Simpson Miller said she would not preside over the destruction of the legacy of the party's former leaders, Norman Manley, Michael Manley and P.J. Patterson.
"I place my life on the line to protect these legacies," she stated. "So, I am calling on all leaders, at every level of the party, to display leadership. We have no choice. We must preserve the PNP".
Political observers have suggested that the election could become as divisive as the 2006 contest which left the part split into camps. Many of Simpson Miller’s supporters have already argued that the decision by Dr. Phillips to mount a challenge at this time could weaken the party and render it unable to compete effectively if the Bruce Golding administration calls a snap election.
Simpson Miller said while the party lost both the last general election and local government election, it had nothing to be ashamed of and encouraged members to rebuild for the future.
"Look at us comrades. In less than nine months after losing the closest election in our history, one poll shows us ahead of the Government," she said. "The Jamaican people are not done with us. We owe it to them to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of a government in waiting".
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