FROM LEFT ARE SIMPSON MILLER, BLYTHE, CLARKE, PHILLIPS, ROBERTSONGarwin Davis, Assistant News Editor
IN WHAT could be a telling pointer to the probable successor to Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, the contest to elect four vice-presidents from a field of five will today highlight the penultimate day of the People's National Party (PNP)'s annual conference.
The contenders are: Minister of Local Government, Portia Simpson Miller; Minister of National Security, Dr. Peter Phillips; Minister of Development, Dr. Paul Robertson; Minister of Agriculture, Roger Clarke; and former Minister of Water and Housing , Dr. Karl Blythe. Of the five, only Mr. Clarke and Dr. Robertson are not seen as likely choices to replace Prime Minister P.J. Patterson when he decides to step down as President of the PNP.
At yesterday's session- if the public show of support from delegates is anything to go by- it is clear that a very competitive race is in the offering. 'Portia for People' is the message supporters for Mrs. Simpson Miller have been taking around the conference floor.
'Roger Again and Always Roger' is the slogan used to show support for a confident looking Mr. Clarke, while for Dr. Robertson, its simply 'Dr. Paul Always There.' For Dr. Phillips, the message is 'Peter: Commitment and Vision' while Dr. Blythe reminds that he is still 'Part of the Renewal Process.'
"There are five candidates vying for four positions so you can expect a competitive race," said Harry Douglas, PNP deputy general secretary. "People have been campaigning and, as you can see, the supporters are out in their numbers." And is he supporting anyone? "No..no...I am an officer of the party...I have to be impartial," he explained.
Senator Kern Spencer, President of the People's National Party Youth Organisation (PNPYO), agreed. He said that while individuals within the PNP's influential youth arm "have their favourites," as a body, "we have to be neutral."
And how does the candidates feel? "It's going better than expected," said Dr. Karl Blythe. "We shall see what we shall see."
Dr. Robertson was equally confident. "Things are looking reasonable good," he said. "Of course you never know until the actual ballots are cast, but things are shaping up okay."
For Dr. Phillips, it's a case where may the best candidates win. "It's four positions and five of us so, it's natural that someone has to lose," he said. "It should be a good contest."
The Gleaner was unable to get comments from Mr. Clarke and Mrs. Simpson Miller. Mr. Clarke however noted last week that he would be very surprised if, at the end of the day, he didn't secure one of the four vice presidential slots within the party.
There were also concerns raised at the afternoon session about the low delegate count- approximately 1800- and whether or not the situation lends itself for them to be manipulated.
Senator Floyd Morrison made it known, from the conference floor, that every step should be taken that persons of influence do not manipulate the situation to the point where they can get whomsoever they desire elected.
Chairman of the party, Bobby Pickersgill, told The Gleaner that while the delegate count was lower than expected, it represented a true picture of eligible participants, as opposed to what he called a conference "swollen by paper groups."
