( l - r ) Simpson-Miller, Robinson, Pickersgill, Bunting

Clearly energised by encouraging poll findings, a fired-up People's National Party (PNP) plans to shrug off the turbulence of the past two years to renew itself as it heads to the National Arena for its annual conference next week.

At the same time, the opposition party warned that it does not plan to let the governing Jamaica Labour Party off the hook as it will make the economy and the crime its platform agenda at the conference.

"The party's progressive agenda will figure prominently, but I am quite certain the economy and crime will take centre stage at the private session," PNP Chairman Robert Pickersgill told The Gleaner yesterday.

'Bring Back the Love' is the theme for the annual conference as the leadership of the party seeks to expel the lingering traces of disagreement in its ranks.

For the officials of the 71-year-old party, the turbulence has been within and without.

Two rough years

Julian Robinson, deputy general secretary of the PNP, conceded that the two years the party has spent in opposition have been rough.

Robinson cited the perception of disunity in the party, the spate of by-elections triggered by the dual-citizenship court battles, as well as the economic crisis and crime problems as reasons for the difficulties.

"The focus is to take an introspective look at ourselves to ensure that the organisation is at a level where it can meet the needs of the electorate," Robinson said.

"We are making sure that the organisation is united and equipped to deal with these challenges," he added.

A Gleaner-commissioned Bill Johnson poll found that the PNP holds a six-percentage point lead over the governing JLP.

The polls also found that most Jamaicans were disappointed with the Government's handling of the economy and crime portfolios.

The Opposition has constantly blamed the Government for the prevailing economic conditions, saying it failed to move decisively at the outset of the global economic crisis.

Golding has conceded that his administration had failed to use its political capital wisely, but economists have not quantified the fall-out which resulted from the Government's hesitancy.

The party has been holding its constituency conferences across the island to mobilise supporters ahead of the three-day conference.

At the same time, the conference is not expected to showcase any internal elections.

No nominations

"The closing date set for the nomination of candidates for offices in the party has passed but no nominations were forthcoming," Pickersgill disclosed.

He said the party was yet to receive any motions that could influence any changes to the internal structures or functions of the party.

"But while we are not in receipt of any, a special committee has been set up," Pickersgill explained.

Motions tabled in the private session could also speak to what has been perceived as a stormy relationship between PNP President Portia Simpson Miller and Peter Bunting, the party's general secretary.