Omar Anderson, Gleaner Writer 
PAULWELL AND HENRY-WILSON
PHILLIP PAULWELL, People's National Party (PNP) deputy Region Three chairman, yesterday denied he was deliberately pitted against Maxine Henry-Wilson in today's race for deputy PNP chairman.
Reports reaching The Sunday Gleaner are that since the PNP vice-presidential race ended more than a week ago, the Portia Simpson Miller and Karl Blythe camps have been pushing Mr. Paulwell to challenge Mrs. Henry-Wilson, who is a major figure in the presidential campaign of PNP vice-president Dr. Peter Phillips.
But the science, commerce, and technology minister said he had always had an eye on one of the party's top posts.
MY DECISION
"I'm supported by a number of people but it's largely my decision to go forward," he said. "I've always been interested in serving as deputy chairman, and it's really out of a desire now to serve at a higher level."
The PNP will hold its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting today, beginning at 10 a.m. at Holiday Inn in Montego Bay.
Delegates will vote to select
candidates for the posts of
chairman, and deputy chairman. Voting will also be held to elect 11 NEC members to sit on the PNP executive committee.
Party chairman, Robert Pickersgill, is expected to be returned unopposed.
NO EASY TASK
In the meantime, Mr. Paulwell admitted yesterday that challenging Mrs. Henry-Wilson, who was PNP general secretary from 1997 to 2003, will be no easy task. He said however he was confident: "I'll give her a good showing."
"I think it's going to be a difficult challenge because Maxine has served the party long and well as general secretary," he stated.
Assessing her chances, Mrs. Henry-Wilson, the education, youth, and culture minister, last Friday referred to what she described were her selfless contributions to the PNP, which she said should resound with delegates today.
"I believe the NEC members will take that into account," she explained. "While I'm not leaving anything to chance, I really have confidence in the delegates."
Meanwhile, Mr. Pickersgill said he expects today's NEC meeting to retain its usual vibrancy.
"Because elections are for the year, there is the usual campaigning and canvassing, and that part of the NEC is usually robust," he told The Sunday Gleaner.
