Phillips

Arthur Hall and Daraine Luton, Staff Reporters

A new dispute over the leadership of the People's National Party (PNP) is threatening to open old wounds and cause more bloodletting.

The Sunday Gleaner has confirmed reports that PNP vice-president Dr Peter Phillips is facing mounting pressure to launch another bid for the leadership of the party.

Several senior PNP members and at least four major financiers of the party have appealed recently to Phillips to challenge Portia Simpson Miller for the presidency at September's annual conference.

Yesterday, Phillips confirmed that he had been approached by persons wanting a change in the leadership.

"Yes, many persons in the party and supporters of the party have made the request. This includes persons who were opposed to my bid the last time around," he told The Sunday Gleaner. "They believe the PNP needs a renewal to get it back to its more traditional character, as the party with ideas and vision as led by Norman Washington Manley and Michael Manley," Phillips said.

The PNP vice-president made it clear that although he agrees that all is not well inside the party, he is not pointing fingers at anyone.

"We have suffered as an organisation after many years in government and we don't have the same intellectual focus and policy direction as when I entered the party many years ago."

Revival of values

He argued that many Jamaicans were concerned about the direction of the PNP and wanted to see a revival in the political party and a return to its traditional values.

"The PNP has been the leading political force in the country, but it doesn't have the same focus now."

However, Phillips was quick to add that he had not made a decision on whether he would launch a challenge.

"When I arrive at a decision, and if I decide to launch a bid for the leadership, it will not be in secret. I am looking at what is best for the PNP and how I can assist in its revival. This is not about me," Dr. Phillips declared. "I don't want to destroy it or even wound it, even as we try to revive the party."

But a senior PNP member aligned to Simpson Miller yesterday argued that any leadership challenge at this time would harm the party. According to the party member, who requested that his name be withheld, Phillips' supporters are not thinking about the party, and their power-hungry drive could consign the PNP to a very long time in the political wilderness.

'No need for challenge'

PNP vice-president Angella Brown-Burke, who supported Simpson Miller in her bid for president of the party in 2006, tells The Sunday Gleaner she does not believe there is need for a leadership challenge now.

"The time is right for the PNP to buckle down to face challenges from outside," Brown-Burke states.

She adds that she still supports Simpson Miller and sees no reason she should not lead the party at this time.

Brown-Burke's husband, Paul Burke, who was Simpson Miller's campaign organiser, is said to be prepared to switch allegiance, but he has dismissed the claim as rumour.

PNP sources say even without an indication from Phillips that he will launch a challenge, a group of influential members has already established an informal campaign team that has started to organise delegates.

In one such instance, Uphell Purcell, councillor for the York Town division in Southwest Clarendon, organised a meeting last Thursday. The meeting's programme said that vice-president Phillips would be announcing his campaign for the leadership of the party.

When he addressed the meeting, Phillips was seemingly aware of the expectations of the planners.

"Some have expectations of this and some expec-tations of that. Some of the things you are expecting will happen one day, but not this day," Phillips told the gathering, which included Brown-Burke, who has vice-presidential responsibility for the area; South West Clarendon MP Noel Arscott; and region four chairman, Horace Dalley.

Importance of unity

A source close to Purcell said that he was disappointed as he expected Phillips to have thrown down the gauntlet for leadership.

Instead, Phillips underscored the importance of the party to be united. He reminded comrades that a snap general election could take place soon.