Linton P. Gordon
So, Portia Simpson Miller has indicated that she will not be seeking nomination to be leader of the People’s National Party (PNP) at their next conference in September, 2017. While this is a step in the right direction, it would have been better for the party had Mrs. Portia Simpson-Miller retired/resigned from the post of president of the People’s National Party (PNP) immediately and allowed her successor to commence the process of establishing him/herself as the new leader.
What Mrs. Portia Simpson-Miller has done is likely to create an extended period of uncertainty and this may result in extensive internal wrangling between those contending for leadership and their respective supporting camps. Portia Simpson-Miller has given almost a year’s notice of her intention to depart from the leadership of the People’s National Party (PNP). Why she is waiting for an entire year to do so makes no sense to anyone who understands or appreciates the risks and dangers involved in this.
If this period is used for extensive in-fighting then it will lead to the weakening of the PNP and the widening of gaps between camps contending for power. In staying on for a year before her date of departure Mrs Simpson-Miller might be inflicting a blow to the PNP from which it might not recover in the near future. So far, Dr. Peter Phillips and Peter Bunting are the only two persons who have indicated that they will be putting themselves forward to be elected as replacement for Mrs. Simpson-Miller.
A long, drawn out campaign between these two could result in irreparable divisiveness in the party and may very well see the emergence of permanent camps that will never work towards reconciliation after the internal election. The members of the PNP, especially those who are senior members, must realize and appreciate that there is a wide cross section of Jamaicans who are turned off from the People’s National Party (PNP) because of a number of reasons and a number of failings. The leadership therefore needs to appreciate the importance of working towards restoring confidence in the party.
A protracted period of internal fighting and squabbling will not restore confidence in the party. Instead it will alienate even more citizens from the People’s National Party (PNP). The Party also needs to bear in mind that Prime Minister Andrew Holness has the option of calling a snap election while members of the PNP are busy fighting each other. If this is done — and I believe it is likely to be done — this is likely to result in Mr Holness increasing his one seat margin in Parliament. This could well be the first step taken by the PNP towards their 18-year hiatus from government.
Portia Simpson-Miller has always asserted her love for the PNP. Even when she was at her comrades in South East St. Ann, she was at the same time stating how much she loves the PNP.
Mrs. Simpson Miller should be guided by her professed love for the PNP and resign her post forthwith. She should then have the election for the new leadership before the end of the year or certainly before the end of January 2017, thereby giving her successor an early start and at the same time avoiding a long and protracted internal campaign. A long, divisive and bitter internal campaign will only weaken the PNP and make it more vulnerable to a snap election.
