Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer



KINGSTON, Jamaica:

A new General Secretary of the People’s National Party (PNP) will be elected at the next meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) as well-placed sources say embattled National Security Minister Peter Bunting is on his way out.



Bunting told The Gleaner, in an interview last year, that he would not be entering the next General Election, constitutionally due December 2016, in the capacity as general Secretary that had fuelled speculation that he was eying something bigger.



Highly-placed insiders told The Gleaner that while Bunting has signalled his intention to quit one of the most powerful positions in the PNP, an official announcement is yet to be made.



The Gleaner/Power 106 was reliably informed that Bunting will make a formal announcement at the next meeting of the National Executive Council, the second most powerful organ of the PNP behind the annual conference.



The next NEC meeting is scheduled for January 26.



“It has been known for some time now but he planned to inform the NEC about it,” said a well placed source.



Chairman of the PNP Robert Pickersgill said he is yet to receive a letter of resignation from Bunting.



When contacted, Pickersgill told The Gleaner that until the letter reaches his hand, he will reserve comment on the matter.



It’s understood that Deputy General Secretaries Raymond Pryce and Julian Robinson as well as long time outspoken party stalwart, Paul Burke are expected to hit the ground in campaign mode in another week.



“I was waiting on Peter to announce his decision,” said one of the aspirants.



“That was the principled thing to do.”



Bunting, one of the more inaccessible General Secretaries in the PNP has been coming under severe pressure as crime levels soars with murder rate reaching in excess of 1,100.



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