McNeill denies plotting to replace Phillips as PNP president
Published:Tuesday | April 14, 2020 | 12:19 AM
People’s National Party (PNP) Vice-President Dr Wykeham McNeill has denied allegations that he has been canvassing support to replace Dr Peter Phillips as president of the party.
Phillips, the opposition leader, is currently battling Stage Three colon cancer and is on a two-week break from national duties.
Since news broke of Phillips’ illness, fractures caused by the internal leadership challenge mounted by Peter Bunting have widened.
One popular PNP organiser alleged that McNeill had been calling members of parliament to seek their support to become opposition leader in the House of Representatives.
No evidence of the claim was proffered.
“I would like to state unequivocally that these allegations are false,” McNeill said yesterday in a letter to party members, a copy of which The Gleaner has obtained.
Labelling the allegations “mudslinging”, the Westmoreland Western member of parliament called for the Comrades to cease the infighting.
“The allegations and muddling currently being promoted by persons is ( sic) intended to sow seeds of discontent and disunity within our beloved party and must be seen as such.
“It is callous and distasteful, and I would ask the organisers to desist,” McNeill fired back.
McNeill had backed Phillips in the leadership contest held last September, helping him to retain his presidency by a 76 votes, or less than three per cent.
Phillips’ diagnosis has set tongues wagging in the PNP, as some party insiders fear his health might decline, making him unable to stand in a general election due by February 2021.
The PNP president has been facing stinging criticisms as he continues to trail Prime Minister Andrew Holness in a series of surveys conducted by several pollsters.
Phillips, has, however maintained that he is electable and can defeat the Jamaica Labour Party leader at the polls.
PNP Vice-President Phillip Paulwell had told The Gleaner that the party has scaled down political activities amid the COVID-19 pandemic now affecting the country.