The Editor, Sir:

As someone who supported Portia Simpson Miller's bid for leadership in 1992 and 2006, I believe the time could never be better for Dr Peter Phillips to challenge for the leadership. I support him wholeheartedly.

While no single party in Jamaica has a monopoly on vision or economic development, I still believe that if Jamaica is going to get out of its stagnant economic condition, the People's National Party will be the party to do it.

I say this because it has always been the party of forward thinkers. It has always articulated its visions, albeit sometimes controversial, but it always defined itself and the path it wanted to take towards Jamaica's economic development.

Need for leadership

If Portia has the vision, she has not articulated it and there is no time to waste.

We need people who understand the global issues. We need people who can pull people, who are serious about Jamaica's development together.

I watched Portia's performance during the last hurricane and since the 2007 election, and I am convinced that the party needs leadership that will take the party back to where it was in the 1950s.

Back then it was a party of volunteerism, integrity, a party of dynamism and a party which recognised that the only way to move forward is through the implementation of a world-class education system. Nothing else will do.

While the party needs a clean house, getting rid of all professional politicians, it needs people who are dynamic and have real tangible ideas.

I am, etc.,

VEROL THOMPSON

Business intelligence architect

Sonic Planet Inc

www.sonic-planet.com