Daraine Luton, Staff Reporter

Chairman of the People's National Party (PNP), Robert Pickersgill, says the party has put the recent squabbles behind them and is pressing ahead for an unprecedented fifth parliamentary term.

"The party is as united as it can be at any stage," Mr. Pickersgill told The Gleaner.

Cracks had opened up in the PNP following Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller's presidential victory over her main rival Dr. Peter Phillips.

Supporters from Dr. Phillips' 'Solid as a Rock' camp, in particular then Cabinet minister K.D. Knight, questioned Mrs. Simpson Miller's intellectual capabilities at governance.

Mr. Pickersgill, though, has said those days are behind the PNP. "We have always said that after a gruelling contest like the one the party went through, of course you are going to have some residual resentment and a little acrimony, but I have no reason to doubt that we have surpassed that and we are on our way," he said.

Mrs. Simpson Miller, according to party insiders, has moved decisively to purge the bad blood in her party. She is said to be eyeing Dr. Phillips as Deputy Prime Minister. Mrs. Simpson Miller also tried to get Education Minister Maxine Henry-Wilson to lead the campaign team of the PNP but Mrs. Henry-Wilson declined the job to concentrate on her ministry and constituency.

Campaign director

Dr. Paul Robertson, the man who headed Dr. Phillips' campaign team, has taken the job of campaign director. Dr. Robertson, who is not seeking re-election, was campaign director in 2002 when the P.J. Patterson team won an unprecedented fourth parliamentary team.

The party chairman was tight-lipped as to the composition of the campaign team but said General Secretary Colin Campbell will be playing a key role. He has, however, declined to say if the role is that of campaign manager. It is likely, though, that Mr. Pickersgill, who is overseeing the treasury in light of the resignation of Dr. Vin Lawrence, will be campaign administrator.

And despite the latest Bill Johnson poll showing the PNP losing some of its support to the uncommitted, Mr. Pickersgill has said the party is not worried.