PNP dedicates day to youth

Henry-Wilson

THE 63RD ANNUAL conference of the governing People's National Party (PNP), which gets under way on Thursday, September 20, will be held over four days instead of the usual three.

Party General Secretary, Maxine Henry-Wilson said the extra day is being dedicated to the party's youth arm, the PNPYO, which will meet all day Thursday at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston to map strategies in the interest of the party.

The main agenda item at this year's conference, at which Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves will be guest speaker, will be an examination of the party's manifesto.

"This is the platform on which we will be going to conference," Mrs. Henry-Wilson said. She said they would also deal with matters relating to candidacy, election strategy and organisational support.

The General Secretary said between $4 million and $5 million has been budgeted for the conference.

A party insider said the money "will be used to do the usual things," such as paying rental for the National Arena where the main activities for the conference will be held, preparing and maintaining the facility for three days, public relations, entertainment and for transporting party delegates to and from the different constituencies.

It was not ascertained whether there will be any election for the post of vice presidents this year. The incumbent vice-presidents are Portia Simpson Miller, Roger Clarke, Dr. Karl Blythe and Dr. Peter Phillips.

Mrs. Henry-Wilson said that while all the candidates were not likely to be in place in time for the conference, "significant progress" was being made in that regard.

"There is some activity that will be taking place over the next couple of days aimed at settling the majority of them where vacancies exist," she told The Gleaner.

There has been some speculation that this could be the party's last conference before the next general election, which is constitutionally due by December 2002. The party's conference is held in September of each year.

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