Mark Beckford, Sunday Gleaner Writer

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller arrives for a meeting of People's National Party (PNP) municipal and parliamentary representatives/candidates held at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston, yesterday. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

The People's National Party (PNP) has all but finalised its candidate selection process for the upcoming general election, which is constitutionally due by the end of October.

General Secretary Donald Buchanan made the disclosure at a specially arranged meeting of PNP hierarchy, candidates and party workers at the Jamaica Conference Centre yesterday. He announced the selection of Ann Marie Warburton as the candidate for North West St. Elizabeth, and Ralph Thomas as candidate for North Central Clarendon. Abe Dabdoub, who represented North Central St. Catherine for the Jamaica Labour Party, has also been confirmed to run on the PNP's ticket for West Portland. "Therefore, with the exception of South East St. Ann I would say that all candidates are now inplace," reported Buchanan.

Back seat

With politics taking a back seat to the Cricket World Cup currently being hosted by the West Indies, the PNP general secretary said yesterday's meeting was aimed at preparing the party for all eventualities - a point made also by PNP chairman Robert Pickersgill. He said the speeches by senior party officials yesterday were "all geared toward preparedness and the must dos once you are entering into the realm of a campaign, and we have been reminded that the party leader has exhorted us on a number of occasions to put her into a position to be able to call the election."

At yesterday's meeting, several senior party figures showered praises on Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, who will celebrate one year in office this week. Pickersgill indicated that the Prime Minister had achieved success both on the domestic and international stages."

Mixed year

"On the trips she has made abroad, she has made a tremendous impression over there; it is tremendous to hear the comments," said Pickersgill.

Opinion surveys have shown a falling off of the PM's favourability rating due to factors such as the controversial donation of $31 million to the PNP by Dutch-based oil trading firm Trafigura Beheer and the Government's mishandling of the contamination and consequential shortage of locally produced cement.

But Buchanan boasted yesterday: "No Prime Minister has superseded Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller in their first year in office. The economy is performing and the country is moving forward."