George Henry, Gleaner Writer
Horace Dalley converses with Maxine Henry-Wilson at the Peter Phillips camp at the Chinese Benevolent Association headquarters on Saturday. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Clarendon:
"PORTIA, PORTIA, Portia" were the words from the mouths of jubilant Portia Simpson-Miller supporters who travelled in buses from Jamaica College through the towns of Spauldings in Clarendon and Christiana in Manchester from as early as 1:00 p.m., hours before People's National Party (PNP) president PJ Patterson made the announcement that "Sister P" would be the first female to lead the 68-year-old party and ultimately the country.
Confident that their presidential candidate would have defeated her three opponents, Phillips, Davies and Blythe, the yellow shirt and cap clad supporters drove through the small town chanting the name of their well loved candidate, as they like thousands of Jamaicans awaited the official word from 89 Old Hope Road.
The presence of the early celebrants caught the attention of almost everyone in the reach of their voice, and even shoppers who were busy doing their weekend shopping in various establishments ran from the turnstiles to identify with the PNP delegates, headed by MP Caretaker for north east Manchester Paul Lyn.
Shouts of Mama P and Sister P rang out as the busy towns which were taken over by the yellow clad supporters sent other persons into a frenzy as they joined in the celebration before the official announcement. One man and a woman who appeared to be rock stoned PNP supporters were overheard saying they wanted Mrs. Simpson-Miller to lead the party from as far back as 1992 when former president PJ Patterson was elected. However, they too were confident that here wishes were only a few hours away.
When an announcement came by way of the radio from Solid As A Rock campaign member John Junor that his fellow supporters at the PNP headquarters should remain positive as Dr. Phillips was within striking distance of winning the presidential race, it almost brought the celebrations to a low. However confident Portia Simpson-Miller supporters downplayed the health minister's announcement, saying that their candidate could not lose.
They were correct. When the Prime Minister made the announcement that the female contender was victorious persons ran out of every building in Spauldings and screamed on top of their voices for several minutes while they awaited her victory speech.
The supporters stood still and listened attentively as if they were themselves with at 89 Old Hope Road with the new leader, while she addressed the crowd at that location.
