Arthur Hall, Senior Staff Reporter

The secretariat of the People's National Party (PNP) has brokered an agreement which it hopes will put an end to the controversy which has started to mar the campaign for the party's top job.

Forced into action following recent public comments from supporters of the party president, Portia Simpson Miller, and challenger, Dr Peter Phillips, the PNP secretariat yesterday summoned representatives of both sides to a meeting.

Following the closed-door session, PNP Deputy General Secretary Julian Robinson told The Gleaner that the two sides had agreed on most areas.

Downplayed significance

Robinson did not outline the differences that were outstanding but he downplayed their significance.

"We discussed the rules of engagement which covers some of the things that might be injurious to the party's interest," he said.

"Ninety-five per cent of the document (code of conduct) has been agreed on and there are one or two points that we have to hammer out, but they are minor points," Robinson said.

He confirmed that the secretariat has received one formal report of an alleged breach of the code of conduct but did not provide details.

"We have not received any other report as yet and the secretariat is addressing that," Robinson added.

Angered by comments

PNP sources later told The Gleaner that the report was made by the Peter Phillips camp which was angered by recent comments on radio by vice-president emeritus and Simpson Miller supporter, Roger Clarke.

Clarke had claimed that he was not told of the concerns which led to the challenge against Simpson Miller and argued that the old wounds in the party had already started to widen because of the challenge.

The sources also told The Gleaner that the Phillips camp is angry over allegations surrounding the financing of his campaign and claims that its team was trying to buy delegates' votes.

Allegation rejected

This allegation was rejected by Phillips at a party meeting at the York Town Primary School in Clarendon on Wednesday where he also urged his supporters to avoid utterances that would bring the party into disrepute.

"I don't want to undertake a campaign in which you're going to see airplay where Comrades vilify Comrades, and Comrades telling all kinds of versions of untruths and misrepresentations against Comrades," Phillips said.

Campaigning for the PNP's top job is expected to hit high gear after next Monday which is the final day for nominations for the party's top job, as well as four vice-president posts.