Rayon Dyer, Gleaner Writer
ST. ELIZABETH:
WITH A special delegates' conference to select a new president for the peoples National Party (PNP) set to be held before April of this year, supporters of Dr. Peter Phillips, one of the contenders for the post, are claiming that he is the preferred candidate in Region 5 amongst the contenders.
Last Thursday co-chairman of the Solid As A Rock campaign team, Lenworth Blake, told The Gleaner that support for Dr. Phillips in Region Five was at a ratio of 60 to 40. He said that, from a recent canvas of the delegates in the region, the majority was backing Dr. Phillips, who is also the National Security Minister.
"The Solid As A Rock campaign team will be working over the next couple of weeks, harder than we did over the last three months," Mr. Blake said. "What we know, is that Dr. Phillips is the candidate that is presently in the best position to succeed Comrade Patterson, and the delegates are beginning to agree with that."
According to Anthony Bryce, vice-chairman in charge of groups and organisation in the Newport division of South Manchester, most of the delegates in Manchester are looking to Dr. Phillips as the leader who will continue to unite the PNP.
"The fifth term is not the only thing that is on our minds, however. Another critical thing is that the party needs a leader who can continue to unite the delegates and the members of the PNP," Mr. Bryce said.
THE BEST PERSON
Secretary of the constituency of Northeast St. Elizabeth, Clena Solely, said she is looking at a close race between all the contenders, but at this time, Dr. Phillips is the best person to succeed the current president of the PNP.
"I think money will play a significant role in this presidential campaign, because some of the delegates are definitely for sale, while some are not," she said. "I have known of cases where supporters collected money to influence their support in the upcoming presidential race."
Ms. Sloley said that in the Siloah division, Dr. Phillips currently has a firm grip on the majority of the delegates and likewise in the Santa Cruz division. She also noted that Portia Simpson Miller has a significant amount of support in the Balaclava and Braes River division.
