The governing People's National Party (PNP) will this evening kick off its four-day 68th annual conference with what it says will be an evening of excellence, punctuated with speeches and cultural items.

This evening's session, targeting the youth, will be addressed by Prince Cedza Dlamini Mandela, grandson of former South African President, Nelson Mandela.

Appointment

Following this evening's opening, Friday's business session of the conference is expected to begin at 8:00 a.m. The party will deal with administrative and business issues, including the appointment of elections and resolutions committees.

Ministers will also make presentations to the conference.

On Saturday, the main feature will be the race for the four vice-presidential positions. Those contesting the race are incumbent Dr. Peter Phillips, Derrick Kellier, Dr. Fenton Ferguson, Kern Spencer, Sharon Hay-Webster, Angella Brown-Burke and Louis Moyston.

Portia Simpson Miller, in her inaugural address to the conference, is expected to outline her administration's plans for the country on Sunday. Meanwhile, party officials have downplayed suggestions that this conference could serve as a springboard for an election campaign to seek her own mandate.