Dionne Rose and Nagra Plunket, Staff Reporters
People's National Party presidential candidate, Dr. Omar Davies (centre),, speaks with Member of Parliament for South East St. Ann, Aloun Assamba, during a meeting of his Campaign for Prosperity, at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston, yesterday. At left is Ambassador Seymour Mullings, former Government Minister. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
AS THE campaign for presidency of the People's National Party (PNP) intensifies, three of the four contenders again tried to rally the support of delegates yesterday, with the Campaign for Prosperity releasing new figures indicating that Dr. Omar Davies is leading the polls.
Addressing supporters at a meeting in New Kingston, field director for Dr. Davies' campaign, Dr. D.K. Duncan, said a poll as recent as January 23, indicated that Dr. Davies had secured 1,030 pledges from delegates who have indicated that they would elect him as the next PNP president.
According to Dr. Duncan, the leadership aspirant required another 500 pledges to comfortably win the race. But he said with increasing popularity Dr. Davies would soon be guaranteed of convincingly succeeding as PNP leader.
PORTIA STANDS FIRM
But fellow leadership contender, Portia Simpson Miller is disregarding the latest information from the Davies camp.
"I have no recognition for any poll outside of that which is conducted by Don Anderson and the Stone organisation," she told The Gleaner at the St. Elizabeth Technical High School in Santa Cruz, last night.
Earlier, Mrs. Simpson Miller pleaded for delegates to elect a leader who would unite the country.
"The time has come for Portia to lead and nothing can stop it," she said.
"I am happy to hear everywhere I go across the country people are calling for mama."
PRESERVING DIGNITY
Meanwhile, another presidential hopeful, Dr. Peter Phillips, last night appealed for delegates to preserve the dignity of the party during the leadership campaign.
"This Solid As A Rock team is not fighting any war. We are fighting for the People's National Party!" he stated.
He was addressing party delegates at the Negril Golf Club in Westmoreland.
Dr. Phillips also called for a revival of family life noting that 60 per cent of all registered children did not have their father's name on their birth certificates.
The vote for the next president of the PNP will take place at a special delegates conference set for February 25 at Jamaica College, St. Andrew.
Gleaner correspondent Rayon Dyer contributed to this story.
