Special Delegates Conference being considered for PNP presidential contest

The secretariat of the People’s National Party is examining the feasibility of staging a Special Delegates Conference at which to hold a presidential election.

Peter Bunting, MP for Central Manchester, announced on Sunday morning that he will be challenging the incumbent, Dr. Peter Phillips, for the presidency of the 81 year old political party.

The PNP normally holds its Annual Conference in September, and it was initially expected that the contest would be held then. Emerging from Sunday’s meeting of party functionaries at Hotel Versalles  in May Pen Clarendon, however, PNP General Secretary Julian Robinson told RJR News that a Special Delegates Conference might be staged for that purpose.

He said, in light of confirmation “that there will be a challenge,” the officers of the party will meet, “look at the logistics, look at some dates,” and make a proposal to the Executive, “so that we can finalise dates and all the arrangement… for a Special Delegates Conference”.

Mr. Robinson expressed confidence that the factions in PNP will be able to unite behind the winner of the presidential contest as the party heads towards the next general election, constitutionally due in 2021.

It is widely anticipated, however, that Prime Minister Andrew Holness will not wait that long to go to the polls. Many general elections in Jamaica have been held at least one year ahead of the constitutionally mandated deadline.