Blythe tells Portia to set departure timetable

Former People's National Party (PNP) vice-president Dr Karl Blythe has used the second highest decision-making body of the party to tell president Portia Simpson Miller to set a timetable to end her leadership of the beleaguered party.

Dr Blythe made the comments during yesterday's meeting of the National Executive Council of the party.

The PNP NEC was discussing an appraisal report of the party's performance in the February 25 General Election when Blythe told Simpson Miller that she should consider a departure timetable.

Blythe's suggestion found some resistance from a small group inside the party with shouts of "no, no, no".

Blythe who is a former aspirant to the party's leadership ran against Simpson Miller in 2006 in a race that also featured Dr Peter Phillips and Dr Omar Davies.

Simpson Miller, who is also the Opposition Leader, marked 10 years at the helm of the PNP this year.

She has been criticised for her leadership of the party especially heading into the February 25 General Election which her party lost 31-32 to the Andrew Holness-led Jamaica Labour Party.

Former PNP General Secretary Peter Bunting has already signalled his intention to seek the presidency of the party.

However, supporters of former vice-president, Dr Phillips believe that it is Phillips' time to assume the reigns of the PNP.

Meanwhile, the NEC yesterday partially accepted a report of the Julian Robinson-led committee which assessed the party's election performance.

After almost nine hours of deliberations yesterday, Robinson emerged saying the report is expected to be adopted in July at another two-day meeting of the NEC.

PNP General Secretary Paul Burke said about 70 per cent of the NEC membership attended, although all were not in the room at the University of the West Indies at the same time.

He said organisational issues, the local government campaign and other political issues were also discussed.