Jarmila Jackson, Features Writer

People's National Party Vice-President Dr Peter Phillips (left) is greeted by Comrades at the party's constituency conference at the Harbour View Primary School on Sunday. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

His voice was barely audible over the roar of the crowd which crammed a classroom at the Harbour View Primary School in St Andrew. The People's National Party (PNP) 'massive' fought off the stifling heat, preferring to shed layers of clothing rather than leave the room.

When Dr Peter Phillips finally announced his candidacy for the presidency of the PNP on Sunday evening, there was a legion of supporters who would not have dared to have missed the occasion. Sixty-four-year-old Hypon Campbell was one of them.

"I am definitely a supporter of the Peter Phillips campaign. I voted for him in the last election and when the next one comes around, I am definitely voting for him again," said Campbell, who on Sunday evening, was careful to secure a seat that would give him a direct view of the podium.

He sat patiently for more than two hours, awaiting the arrival of the man he believes is best suited to lead the party.

"When I look at the Manleys' (Michael and Norman) kind of politics, I neither see Peter nor Portia with it, but I prefer going with Peter right now because principle-wise I see him as a better leader," said Campbell.

Division due to internal elections

Proudly proclaiming that he has been a supporter of the PNP "since birth", Campbell has witnessed some of the party's best and worst moments. Among his worst nightmares is the tendency for internal elections to create division.

"The party has a weakness: Anytime an election is run inside of the party, the members always carry grievances towards each other.

"So, when we go to the polls, we're always separated because of the differences we have over who should have won," said Campbell, who fears this latest challenge could cost the party another victory if divisive sores erupt again.

Party unity

Campbell called on the leaders of the party to ensure that party unity is preserved, regardless of the results of an internal election.

Echoing his sentiments at Sunday's conference was PNP caretaker for West Kingston and well-known Portia Simpson Miller supporter, Joseph 'Bunny' Witter, who nearly brought down the house with his speech, to thunderous applause from the crowd.

jarmila.jackson@gleanerjm.com