Daraine Luton, Staff Reporter

K.D. Knight has refused to evaluate PNP President Portia Simpson Miller's performance. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

K.D. KNIGHT, the candid Comrade, who was strident that Dr Peter Phillips was best equipped to handle the job of People's National Party (PNP) president on the departure ofP.J. Patterson in 2006, is no longer packing the venomous punches he did two years ago.

While telling The Gleaner yesterday he was not keen on commenting on the leadership race, Knight said Phillips must have relished the thought of winning for him to declare a challenge.

"That decision is based on Dr Phillips' own assessment of his chances, his own personal ambition and his own response to party proposals," Knight said.

Knight and other key supporters of Peter Phillips openly questioned party President Portia Simpson Miller's managerial competence during the 2006 PNP presidential election.

"If the person is popular and cannot hold the party together, the party is going to lose," Knight said in 2006.

NO ASSESSMENT

That approach did not work and, in the end, Simpson Miller triumphed despite overwhelming support from PNP parliamentarians for Phillips.

Knight told The Gleaner that he has made no assessment of Simpson Miller as party president.

"I am more involved in my practise of law and trying to get the Sligoville complex going," he said.

Phillips, in his bid, said he had been approached by thousands of PNP supporters to challenge Simpson Miller for the top post.

Almost comically, Knight said he too had been approached.

"A number of persons had approached me to run for president, but I decided against it," said the 'Sheriff', so termed because his sartorial slickness is often topped off with cowboy hat.

daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com