( L - R ) Portia, Peter

People's National Party (PNP) President Portia Simpson Miller is confident she will see off any challenge from the party's senior vice-president, Dr Peter Phillips.

Yesterday, Simpson Miller told The Gleaner her campaign team was up to the task.

On Sunday, Phillips used a divisional meeting in East Rural St Andrew to declare his intention to challenge Simpson Miller for the party's top job.

But almost 24 hours later, Simpson Miller told The Gleaner she had not received any official word from Phillips.

"I have seen and heard reports throughout the media and have received several calls that Comrade Peter Phillips has made known his intention to resuscitate his candidacy for the office of leader of the People's National Party," Simpson Miller said.

"Not having heard directly from Comrade Phillips, I am relying on the truth of these reports as I acknowledge the democratic right of any member of the party to aspire to any elected position within our movement."

First-time challenge

Simpson Miller noted that while the PNP has a reputation for internal democracy, this was the first time in its 70-year history that a sitting president was being challenged.

In a statement last night, Phillips said he had informed party Chairman Robert Pickersgill of his decision to seek the presidency. He added that he had requested that Pickersgill arrange a meeting with Simpson Miller prior to initiating the steps necessary for complying with the requirements for his nomination.

"I am looking forward to that meeting and will be holding meetings subsequently at all levels of the party," Phillips said. "As soon as my campaign team has finalised arrangements for the formal launch of the campaign, all the necessary protocol will be observed in keeping with agreed principles and traditions."

Simpson Miller has been PNP president since February 2006 when she emerged from a four-person race with the most delegate votes (1,775).

Phillips was the runner-up with 237 fewer votes.