Senior party officials to nominate Phillips

Leader of opposition business in the House of Representatives and chairman of the powerful Region Three, Phillip Paulwell and Central Manchester Member of Parliament Peter Bunting, will tomorrow lead senior officers of the party as they ink the nomination forms for Peter Phillips, paving the way for the People's National Party (PNP) stalwart to take the baton from outgoing president Portia Simpson Miller on March 26.

The signing of Phillips' nomination forms by senior party officials is in keeping with stipulations by the party secretariat that senior members of the candidate's official campaign directorate be among the signatories, given the importance of the declaration.

In addition, the nomination forms are to be signed by 12 members of the party who are in good financial standing.

A throng of PNP supporters is expected to accompany Phillips when he makes his way to PNP headquarters at 89 Old Hope Road on Wednesday to be nominated. The exercise is scheduled to take place at 11 a.m.

Phillips, the clear front-runner at this time for the top job in the party, told The Gleaner yesterday that for him, the presidency would be the next stage in "a long effort to ensure that we can give further service to the PNP and the people of Jamaica".

Asked about his expectations in terms of crowd support on nomination day, Phillips said there was widespread support for him across the party, including many persons who "were not originally my supporters but who have given me tremendous support now.

"I don't think it will be possible to stop some of them from coming out and I would not want to, because many have been with me in thick and thin for many years," Phillips pointed out.

Persons who wish to throw their hat in the ring for party president have until Friday, this week, to submit nomination forms. They will also be required to pay the sum of $100,000.