Western Bureau:

Opposition Spokesman on Finance and People's National Party (PNP) leader-esignate Dr Peter Phillips says he is ready to lead Jamaica and fix the problems now plaguing the nation.

Phillips, who is slated to be installed as the fifth president of his party on March 26 at a special delegates' conference at the National Arena in Kingston, made known his position while addressing a Region 6 (St James, Hanover and Westmoreland) mass rally at the Manning's School auditorium in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, on Sunday.

According to Phillips, it takes a strong and active PNP to give the Jamaican people the progress that they need. He says he is ready to take the baton from outgoing leader Portia Simpson Miller and fulfil the stated mission.

"Our mission is to create a society of greater equality and not a society of prosperity for a few and poverty for the many," said Phillips, while slamming the $13.5-billion tax package recently outlined by the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Government.

"Our mission is to build the educational system that won't leave half the children behind. We left in the budget money to take 24 schools off the shift system. Not one school has come off the shift system under the JLP Government because they took the money to try and fulfil their false promises," continued Phillips.

Despite the dismal picture he painted, Phillips urged comrades not to feel demoralised for being in opposition because those who had voted for the JLP in the last general election and had been scammed by the political promise of the income-tax break are already regretting the decision.

"Everybody who listened to Parliament last week to that tax package knows that now more than ever, we need the PNP. We are committed to building a better Jamaica," Phillips said, in urging comrades to go out and welcome persons who are turning away from the JLP.