Phillips: Presidential election a fight for the soul of the PNP
Published:Tuesday | September 3, 2019 | 12:29 AMRomario Scott/Gleaner Writer
It was sold as an East Central St Andrew constituency conference, but it was more of a One PNP rally with almost all speakers on Sunday evening touting their support for Dr Peter Phillips, who is being challenged for the party’s presidency.
With One PNP flags hoisted on poles and at the entrance of the venue, and women, especially, sporting T-shirts with similar branding, it was clear the conference would be used as an opportunity to excite delegates.
And so it was.
From early on in the conference, supporters were being urged to stick with Phillips, who is celebrating 25 unbroken years as member of parliament for East Central St Andrew.
On Saturday, September 7, Phillips will square off with Peter Bunting in a leadership challenge. Bunting has told the country that Phillips is unelectable at the polls.
Rubbing shoulders with Phillips on the platform at the conference on Sunday evening at Tarrant High School were the party’s four vice-presidents: Mikael Phillips, Phillip Paulwell, Damion Crawford and Dr Wykeham McNeill; General Secretary Julian Robinson; Chairman Fitz Jackson; and Campaign Director Natalie Neita.
“Comrade leader, victory is going to be yours on the seventh of September. We are going to be powerful together when you win the next general election and become the next prime minister of Jamaica,” declared Jennifer Edwards, president of the PNP Women’s Movement, as she addressed the conference.
Urging the women in the auditorium to stand, Edwards said: “Comrade party leader, what women want they get, and the women of the PNP want you to be the leader.
“I check the voters’ list, Party Leader, and you good, because the women are supporting you,” Edwards assured Phillips.
‘NO FRESH PRINCE’
Neita ripped into Bunting’s Rise United camp, while defending Phillips against critics who argue that his time has passed.
“I hear people saying all sort of something, but I am not looking for no fresh prince at this time. I am not looking for a weightlifter and mi nah look for a man fi go run pon di track. If me want a man fi run pon the track, mi a go check Usain Bolt. And if I want a big name entertainer, mi a go call Beenie Man. Right now, I need a prime minister in Jamaica House, and the man is Peter David Phillips,” she declared.
“Nobody can’t tell me nothing ‘bout age. One of dem a 60 and one a 69. Don’t tell me about old, because 69 is a fantastic number,” Neita said to loud cheers from the crowd.
Phillips, in the meantime, reminded party faithful that the election was a fight for the soul of the party.
“You hear the voice of the Rastaman say, ‘Babylon, you throne gone down, gone down. Babylon, you throne gone down’,” Phillips chanted.
“We must always remember what we stand for. We have our mission,” Phillips told supporters.