PNP conference goes to JC
published: Saturday | January 28, 2006

Tyrone Reid, Staff Reporter

AFTER DAYS of insisting that its February 25 special delegates conference would be held at the National Arena, the secretariat of the People's National Party (PNP), announced yesterday that the venue has been changed.

The new venue will be Jamaica College, 189 Old Hope Road.

A release from the secretariat said confirmation for the venue was arrived at yesterday after the conclusion of a number of meetings with the Gibson Relays Organising Committee and Independence Park Limited (IPL), managers of the National Stadium, National Arena and Indoor Sports Centre.

Earlier this week Colin Campbell, deputy general secretary of the PNP, was unflinching about the PNP's intention to choose its next president at the National Arena. However, yesterday's release cited security concerns and good intentions for the sport of track and field as the reasons for the change in position.

"The PNP said it understood the concerns of the relay organisers regarding the participation of all schools as well as patrons, and did not wish to cause any disruption of this important track meet," the release said.

Major Desmon Brown, general manager of IPL, welcomed the news of the switch. "We are happy that it is resolved ... (the decision) has taken the headache off a lot of people," he said.

ADMINISTRATIVE SLIP

Major Brown admitted a slip in administrative procedures caused the mix up. He revealed that, in an attempt to keep the date of the conference a secret until the appointed time, the party had booked several dates. He was however quick to point out that, from a technical standpoint, the complex could host all three events simultaneously.

He added though that his administration "did not sufficiently appreciate the full consequences of co-hosting a political event" with the other scheduled events.

After Prime Minister P.J. Patterson announced the date, reports surfaced that the Jamaica Baptist Union (JBU) had booked the Arena from February 25 to prepare for its annual general assembly the following day. However, the PNP swiftly dismissed suggestions that there was any issue with the venue and stated that the main issue related to the Gibson Relays, which are to be hosted at the National Stadium on the same day.