Mark Beckford, Staff Reporter
Dr. Peter Phillips and his son Mikael, who said of his father: "He is my best friend; I would not want to change that fact." - photos by Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer
Michael Manley and Bruce Golding are some of the more prominent sons who have followed in the political footsteps of their fathers - Norman Manley and Tacius Golding.
Now, take out your pens and get ready to add the names of Peter and Mikael Phillips to that list.
These two are the newest additions to the father-and-son tradition of representational politics in Jamaica.
Peter is the seasoned campaigner who has been through several political battles, while his son Mikael is still cutting his teeth in the political arena.
Both will, however, stand side by side (though not literally) in contesting seats for the People's National Party (PNP) in the general election on August 27.
Dr. Peter Phillips will be defending his East Central St. Andrew seat and Mikael will be running in East Rural St. Andrew.
The Phillipses say they have many similarities: love for service, love for country, and self-confessed ideals of integrity. One has a well-developed paunch and the other has an emerging one. Like father, like son indeed.
Swapping praise
Dr. Peter Phillips (left) and his son Mikael. "My commitment to country comes from him," says the young Phillips.
Speaking with The Gleaner last week at the Oxford Road offices of the Ministry of National Security, the Jamaica College old boys had much to say about each other. Their rather lavish descriptions of each other, however,didn't feel rehearsed or fake, but familiar and mutual.
Tradition had the elder Phillips kicking things off.
"Committed, loves Jamaica, enterprising, caring for country and community and for people and I think essentially a good person to have as a son," Dr. Phillips said of his firstborn. He said he never envisioned Mikael becoming a politician.
The younger Phillips also spoke admirably of his father and how he has learnt the virtues of life from him. The proprietor of Island Signs Outdoor Advertising Limited said that, while his father was busy when he was a child and when he became a young adult, he was always there for his family.
More praise for papa rolls off his tongue: "My commitment to country comes from him, he is my best friend, I would not want to change that fact; commitment to family, a disciplinarian, somebody from whom we as children learnt that integrity means a lot."
Mikael says he has adopted some of his father's style in how he approaches politics.
Dr. Phillips has been involved in politics since 1989 and has been representing the constituency of East Central St. Andrew since 1994. Though not oozing charisma, Dr. Phillips was able to retain his seat in the 2002 election with a victory margin of more than 3,000 votes.
Mikael reckons that his dad's ability to relate to people has made him come up trumps. Of course, running in a traditionally safe PNP seat doesn't exactly hurt your chances.
Promising career
Businessman and PNP candidate for East Rural St. Andrew, Mikael Phillips, has victory on his mind.
Although it is early days, Dr. Phillips sees promise in his son's political career.
"Well, he has a lot of energy ... he has the ability, which is very important in politics, to treat every human being as an important person no matter how poor or humble may be their circumstance, no matter how wealthy or ostentatious or extravagant may be their circumstance."
But the questionon the minds of most may be whether Dr. Phillips had a hand in his son's first foray into representational politics, or as some Jamaicans would say, "Ah him fada set him up."
But the younger Phillips rubbishes those claims. "Both parents gave us, or allowed us to choose, the path that we want to with some guidance, and it is something that I always wanted to do, something that I was attracted to," he said.
"I have always helped my father in his campaigns but, my entering now, he left it to me.
"It was my decision and he supported me in my decision and it is something I knew I wanted to do, but 'when' was the question."
But did his father at least have a say in securing his selection or the constituency that he was running in? 'No' remained the resounding answer.
"Children, in a sense, represent a care that has been placed upon you by God ... they don't belong to you, it is not something that you own, it is something that you are responsible for, which means ultimately they have to be free to make their own decisions," said Dr. Phillips.
Fatherly advice
Dr. Peter Phillips, the Minister of National Security, in a reflective mood.
He did, however, say he gave his son some fatherly advice on politics and political life.
"Truth be told, I urged him to think long and hard before getting involved in this process," he said. "While service is very good in many ways, it is a thankless task. In many ways you open yourself up to many negative experiences. You have to be very clear in your mind why you want to engage in it. Otherwise, it can be very painful, even though very rewarding."
While both are exuding confidence at their prospects, they say that if they are victorious, no one should expect an alliance from them in Parliament. Service to country is paramount, they say.
But will any of the men be going for the presidency of their party in the near or distant future?
According to the younger Phillips, "(One) doesn't go forward in thinking that you want to be president of the party or Minister of National Security. If asked to serve in any one of the capacities, I will make my decision there and then. It is not the purpose of entering politics. I will be all right being a backbencher."
Dr. Phillips, once a candidate for the party presidency, was much more measured.
"I live one day at a time trying to do my best and trust the Almighty," he said.
mark.beckford@gleanerjm.com
