Duncan-Price takes charge at Opposition leader's office
Published:Friday | April 7, 2017 | 12:00 AMChristopher Serju
Imani Duncan-Price co-executive director of the Caribbean Policy Research Institute (CaPRI), is to give up that post by the end of the month to focus on her new role as chief of staff in the Office of the Opposition Leader, reporting directly to Dr Peter Phillips.
"The chief of staff is working with the president, the leader, on the strategy; what's the long-term political building, the policy areas, how we ensure we have the teams working the right way to find the solutions. It's akin to partnering with the general secretary, who is on the party side, to ensure that the party - People's National Party (PNP) - runs effectively in fulfilling its mandate to the people of Jamaica," Duncan-Price told The Gleaner yesterday.
Greater demands on time
She further explained that the new role will put much greater demands on her time, hence the decision to leave the policy think tank.
"Even though I am member of the party, I wasn't in the centre of the party, so being at CAPRI wasn't necessarily any kind of potential conflict of interest. (But) being in this role, I will also be like a spokesperson for the leader of the Opposition."
Having contested the East Rural St Andrew seat for the PNP in the last general election, Duncan-Price is undecided about her future in representational politics.
"I'm waiting. I'm looking at everything, but the desire to serve is very much there," she disclosed.
Meanwhile, Jenni Campbell, former managing editor at The Gleaner, will also join the opposition leader's team as communications director.