Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer

A BANNER inscribed 'One PNP, One Mission' hung in the Peter Phillips 'Arise and Renew' camp, but many Portia Simpson Miller 'Team PNP' supporters disagreed with this slogan during the People's National Party (PNP) special delegates election yesterday.

"On our 70th anniversary, we are in chaos and confusion!" shouted several Comrades - representing the South Central St Catherine constituency - who took up residence just outside the Arise and Renew tents.

Their camp was located on the other side of the National Arena, but they were bent on heckling persons casting their votes for Peter Phillips. "We should be here celebrating our founding fathers, yet we chose to mash up our party. We already chose a leader in 2006," a member of the group echoed.

According to them, although there was no question of Portia Simpson Miller losing the race, in the event she did, there was no way they would vote for Phillips in a general election.

"Peter Phillips should never have fought the woman; instead, he should have helped her with the money he is fighting this election with. If he did, we would have won the last election," they declared in the presence of their councillor, Norman Scott, who agreed with their views.

a third party

Scott's followers went as far as to state that a loss for Simpson Miller would signal the formation of a third party, the 'Portia Party'.

For the Arise and Renew team, their take on the whole matter was the fact that the democratic process was being exercised to its full potential.

"We are indeed celebrating our 70th anniversary, because this is a true demonstration of the democracy that the party has lived through for its 70 years of existence," insisted National Executive Council member Anthony O'Connor.

"This is part and parcel of founder Norman Manley's dream that democracy was and must remain predominant."

Charles Morrison of Region Six, a Phillips supporter, said: "If Portia wins today, we will all stand behind her. This election today shows the vibrancy of the PNP and that our internal democracy is alive and well."

As a result of the elections, a number of activities planned for the anniversary celebrations were postponed, including a re-enactment of its launch 70 years ago, and a dinner to honour the four surviving presidents.

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com