- GEORGE HENRY
PNP Vice-President Portia Simpson Miller with supporters.
George Henry, Gleaner Writer
CLARENDON:
AS THE People's National Party's second-tier leaders position themselves to take over the leadership of the PNP when party president P.J. Patterson calls it quits, there are signs that Local Government and Sports Minister Portia Simpson Miller and her team, 'Team Portia' have started to rally their troops in sections of the island.
Things became clear last Thursday night that the PNP first vice-president intends to pull out all the stops in her bid to outrun all the other contenders who have already shown more than an interest in leading the party.
It was at Fayors Entertainment Centre in Mandeville, in front of a throng of supporters headed by campaign manager and MP for north-west Clarendon, Richard Azan, that Mrs. Simpson Miller stated that she will be launching her campaign "at the right time and at the right place" after she and her team are through rallying their troops across the island.
Present in the large crowd were Dr. Warren Blake; Glenville Shaw, the former South West St.Ann MP; Jamaica Amateur Athletics Associa-tion President Howard Aris; former State Minister for Local Government Jennifer Edwards; former Mayor of Mandeville Cecil Charlton; and Mandeville businessman Kenneth 'Skeng Don' Black.
"When Portia is going to launch, all the criticisms about who supporting and who not supporting, they will see people from all walk of life," Mrs. Simpson Miller affirmed.
She noted that the meeting in Mandeville came in response to the insistence of 'comrades' from that part of the island, who are adamant that she and her team should show their presence.
RALLYING TEAM
The PNP first vice-president stated that she did not want to start any campaigning as there is not yet a vacancy for presidency of the party and she did not want to be all over the country having any kind of campaigning until the right time comes, but that she has now started to put her team on the ground.
"I am now beginning to put 'Team Portia' on the ground in every parish, in every constituency and in every division across the country," noted Mrs. Simpson Miller.
Hitting out at her critics, Mrs. Simpson Miller said she did not have time to hear them, stating that she did not have to justify anything. However, while taking a swipe at those who continue to question her educational qualification, she pointed out that she has come to the country on her record of service to the People's National Party and her record of performance as a government minister. She took time out to make mention of those who continue to speak about her education.
"Of course, I did not go to KC, JC or Calabar. I did not go to Hampton, and I respect and love the people who went to those institutions, because education is very important.
Nothing can beat a good education, but at the same time it does not give anyone a right to say to people, because they did not attend certain institutions, they do not have the ability to do certain things," noted the PNP vice president.
VERY GRATEFUL
Obviously touched by that criticism, Mrs. Simpson Miller stated that while many persons were not aware of the university she attended, she knew that she was highly recommended by University of the West Indies' Professor Rex Nettleford to attend an American institution.
She pointed out that although she is grateful for the education received from the American institution, she is even more grateful for the education she has received from the Jamaican environment over the years.
Mrs. Simpson Miller pointed out that she is offering herself as leader of the party, because she believes that she is capable and has the ability, the heart and the qualities of a good leader. She called on her supporters to be respectful to the other contenders for the leadership of the PNP.
