Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer
Members of Team Portia at a press conference and launch of Team Portia at the Hilton Kingston hotel, New Kingston, yesterday. - NORMAN GRINDLEY/DEPUTY CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
CONFIDENCE was the buzz word at the Hilton Kingston hotel yesterday where the latest leg of Portia Simpson Miller's bid to succeed P.J. Patterson as People's National Party (PNP) president and Prime Minister was launched.
The Minister of Local Government, Community Development and Sports was not present, but details of her three-week campaign were outlined by Roger Clarke, her campaign manager and chairman of Team Portia's policy committee.
Mr. Clarke, who is also Agriculture Minister, said the latest phase of Mrs. Simpson Miller's leadership run starts Sunday with a rally in Morant Bay, St. Thomas. Similar events are planned for Clarendon, St. Ann, Trelawny, St. James, Kingston and St. Andrew, St. Catherine, St. Mary, Westmore-land and St. Elizabeth.
The campaign closes January 30 with another rally in Portmore.
DIRECT CONTACT
"Through this series of rallies our organisation will continue to be in direct contact with group members and delegates so that they can hear the candidate's clear vision for Jamaica," said Mr. Clarke.
Mrs. Simpson Miller's roster also includes four delegates meetings, the first of which is scheduled for Portland on January 12. At a Crime and Justice Policy Forum slated for the Jamaica Conference Centre three days later, she will outline plans to fight crime if elected Prime Minister.
Mr. Clarke stressed that the executive of Team Portia has been 'vigilant' in ensuring the proper selection of the over 4,000 delegates who will vote at the Special Delegates Conference to elect the new PNP president and Jamaica's seventh Prime Minister.
Paul Burke, Mrs. Simpson Miller's deputy campaign director, says this process remains a concern for Team Portia.
FLAWED DEMOCRATIC PROCESS
"We think that most of the process is secure regardless of whichever candidates groups support. We think two thirds of the group have conformed," Mr. Burke told The Gleaner. "The democratic process has always been flawed and the party secretariat in the last two years has tried to do some corrective measures but it has not cleaned up the system totally," he added.
At yesterday's function, Mrs. Simpson Miller was endorsed by Vincent Morrison, island supervisor of the National Workers Union, the PNP's trade union arm.
Mrs. Simpson Miller's opponents in the PNP race are Finance Minister Dr. Omar Davies, National Security Minister Dr. Peter Phillips and former Water and Housing Minister, Karl Blythe.
