Rayon Dyer, Gleaner Writer

BLACK RIVER, St Elizabeth:

Dr John Brown on Sunday defeated Hugh Buchanan by 16 votes to win chairmanship of the People's National Party (PNP) constituency executive in South West St Elizabeth.

The results were released at the end of the closed-door session of the party's annual constituency conference at Black River High School.

In September, the delegates of the opposition PNP will be participating in an internal run-off to choose a new leader for the party.

Blow to portia's campaign

Many supporters are of the view that Buchanan's loss was a blow to Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller's campaign efforts in the parish against her challenger, Dr Peter Phillips.

Hugh Buchanan is the son of former general secretary of the PNP, Donald Buchanan. His victory could have helped the Simpson Miller campaign, as his father is an ardent backer of the party president.

Member of the North East constituency executive, Sandra Dobson, told The Gleaner that from all indications, most of the delegates in the constituency are throwing their support behind Phillips.

"Dr Phillips was one of the first persons to come to the constituency to show his support for our MP when he was charged in connection with the Cuban light-bulb saga.

"Our support is 100 per cent behind Dr Phillips because we see him as the man with the plan to rescue the PNP at this time," Dobson said.