Mark Golding wins PNP presidency

Mark Golding on Saturday became the sixth president of the 82 year old People’s National Party, defeating Lisa Hanna in the two way contest.

Mr Golding received 1,740 votes to Ms Hanna's 1,444.

The announcement was made at the PNP's headquarters at the end of voting by delegates at parish polling centres across the island.

Shortly after the announcement, Mr Golding delivered his acceptance speech at the same venue.

Golding, in his victory speech, characterized this new phase of his life as “bold new era of national leadership.”

He again cited his self-proclaimed reputation of being “a leader who has a proven track record of delivering results and leader who is not divisive, and is inclusive.”

In that vein he made complimentary remarks about Lisa Hanna, the defeated candidate, who was not on hand for the announcement of the result.

According to Mr Golding, he would have been happy to have had her there, but said she had explained to him that she had made prior commitments to be in her constituency.

“If she were here I would have asked her to come forward and join me,” he said, while praising her “for a strong but collegial contest.”

He proclaimed that the PNP would be “a big tent for all of us,” in reference to those delegates and other members who did not support his candidacy, offering to meet with Hanna’s team so that they might all discuss a shared vision for the future of the PNP.

It was important, he stressed, for the PNP to put such divisions aside and prepare for its return to government.

Principles and practices

He asserted that he understood and believed in the principles and practices of the 82 year old political movement, established in 1938, and declared to be a Socialist organization shortly afterwards.

In that regard he reaffirmed his commitment to “the struggle for social justice and the creation of a society with equality to opportunity for all Jamaicans.”

He sought to appeal to both seniors and the youth, saying it was only with the input of all that a stronger Jamaica will be created.

Challenges

Mr Golding made note of the “unprecedented challenges and untold hardships” being faced by the country, which according to him, find the government struggling to cope.

Accordingly, he predicted, the country will soon be looking to the PNP once again “to lead the country out of this crisis.

“Our immediate task is to get our party fit and ready for the Jamaican people,” he declared.

Hanna 

Lisa Hanna, the losing candidate, congratulated Mr Golding and pledged her support in a written statement released to the media.

In the statement, released shortly after the results were announced, Ms. Hanna said she had called Mr. Golding and extended her congratulations and best wishes to him.

She also assured him of her full support in the period ahead to ensure that the PNP remains faithful to the best interests of the Jamaican people.

“We have much work to do and must come together in love and choose Unity,” she asserted.

Reflecting on her campaign experience, Ms Hanna characterised it as one that had been “extraordinary” for her, adding that she “loved every moment of the journey, walking with and talking to with the delegates.

PNP Presidents

Mark Golding, in becoming the sixth president of the PNP, follows in the footsteps of the party's founding leader, Norman Washington Manley (1938-1969), and his successors to date; Michael Manley (1969-1992), P.J. Patterson (1992-2006), Portia Simpson Miller (2006-2017), and Dr Peter Phillips (2017-2020).