Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer
Colin Campbell (left), Team Portia communications officer, and Paul Burke, deputy campaign manager, discuss issues related to the People's National Party (PNP) presidential campaign after a press briefing held yesterday at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
'A STORM IN a teacup.' That's how Paul Burke, deputy campaign manager for People's National Party (PNP) presidential candidate Portia Simpson Miller, described a call by the camp of rival Dr. Peter Phillips for independent observers to monitor the delegates' list for the People's National Party's (PNP) February 25 poll.
Mr. Burke made the comment during a press conference at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel yesterday. He said Dr. Phillips' 'Solid As a Rock' team was panicking.
"We have facilitated the return of hundreds of delegates forms and when I say that, I'm being very conservative," said Mr. Burke. "We welcome observers, we have no problems with that. But I think some people underestimated us and are now frightened."
Mrs. Simpson Miller, the Minister of Local Government, Community Development and Sport, and Dr. Phillips, the National Security Minister, are front-runners in the race to succeed P.J. Patterson as PNP leader and Prime Minister of Jamaica.
Finance Minister Dr. Omar Davies and former Water and Housing Minister Dr. Karl Blythe are the other contenders.
Minutes before, in an impromptu press conference also at the Jamaica Pegasus, Dr. Paul Robertson of the Phillips team, said the request for unbiased observers was justified.
Dr. Robertson said he had contacted PNP General Secretary Burchell Whiteman Tuesday evening to express his team's concern that the volume of work might be too much for the volunteers currently monitoring nomination forms at the PNP's Old Hope Road headquarters.
CALL FOR SCRUTINEERS
"The 'Solid As a Rock' team is recommending that the services of an independent team with requisite competence in data processing be immediately retained to ensure the timely, transparent and accurate separation of the voters' list," he said.
Dr. Robertson also requested that scrutineers from each camp be allowed to observe the monitoring process.
Yesterday was the closing date for the 2,758 groups to hand in nomination forms listing the almost 4,000 delegates who will vote in the presidential poll which takes place at Jamaica College.
Maureen Webber, the PNP's Deputy General Secretary, said yesterday that nomination forms were slow in coming. She said it was doubtful the quota of forms would make the 8:00 p.m. deadline.
