PNP 66th annual conference at Mico Teachers' College on February 5, last year. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
REPORTS REACHING The Sunday Gleaner are that lots of inducements in cash or kind are being offered to People's National Party (PNP) delegates to buy their support.
PNP sources, who ask for anonymity, say cash inducements as high as $70,000 have been offered to delegates to switch allegiance. In some instances, deposits have been made on items of furniture with the balance promised after the voting has taken place.
One spokesman for one of the four campaigns said there was a distinction between services or favours granted to a delegate who was functioning as a worker. These persons, he said, may need to have a prescription filled or some basic need met while campaigning for a candidate.
Asked to comment on charges of bribery during a press conference last week, Team Portia spokesman Colin Campbell said he understood the temptation to offer bribes because such a relatively small group of persons (delegates) were being asked to make such an important decision. Of course, he said his candidate was not involved in the bribing of delegates.
