LEFT: Three-year-old Donté King waves a People's National Party delegates flag while in the arms of Dr. Peter Phillips, the Minister of National Security.
CENTRE: People's National Party vice-president Portia Simpson Miller greets hundreds of yellow-clad
supporters during the first leg of her 'Road to Victory' tour at the Morant Bay Courthouse in Morant Bay, St. Thomas, on January 8, 2006.
RIGHT: Finance and Planning Minister Dr. Omar Davies lends a voter his pen during the People's National Party Region Three Annual Conference in August 2005.
The Sunday Gleaner wrote to each of the People's National Party (PNP) contenders for
leadership requesting answers to critical nation-building issues. Below are the responses from three of the candidates to
one of our questions.
Question:
Do you believe in a code of ethics for party members? If so, what would be the proposed sanctions for any breach?
PETER PHILLIPS
The PNP already has a code of ethics. This may need to be reviewed. The constitution also sets out a code of expected behaviour.
The first step would be to ensure each member of the party is steeped in both the code of ethics and the constitutional requirements. Further, the party has to return to one of its practices: educating all members to make them committed to the
purpose of the party nation-building, not
personal gain.
Education around the party's principles and purpose would be a requirement for anyone
seeking office in the party. Performance of responsibilities, together with practice of the
principles, would be a requirement for selection to the party's higher organs and structures and for election to representation of the party.
PORTIA SIMPSON MILLER
I most certainly believe in standards for party members, whether it is embodied in the constitution or codified in a special document. The People's National Party has both mechanisms. As an officer of the party for over 27 years, I have been an
integral part of the development of these systems. Continued refinement is always needed to ensure that the party remains current and so as president of the party, periodic reviews would be done.
The party has had for years, an internal affairs commission and a disciplinary committee which oversees party relations and behaviour. Generally, this has served the party well even though some members have a concern about the way in which matters are generally brought to their attention and enforcement of the appropriate sanctions.
In terms of sanctions, the punishment should fit the crime and various sanctions up to and including expulsion from the party are available to the responsible officers and organs. The more difficult area of party discipline to manage is the behaviour of supporters who are not subject to the arrangements mentioned. Yet, there is no
difference in the public's mind between
members and supporters. At present, the party can only dissociate itself from such persons or in the case of a criminal offence, report the matter to the police. But this could be one area for further work by the party.
OMAR DAVIES
The PNP operates with a code of ethics which has my wholehearted approval. I believe that a comprehensive reform is necessary to reform, rebuild and renew the party. Those who do not comply with the code of ethics in the party cannot represent the party as officers or leaders and under certain circumstances, can be expelled from the party.
