People's National Party (PNP) President Portia Simpson Miller has set up a team to lead make-up talks between her supporters and those of Dr Peter Phillips.

Animosity remains strong following Simpson Miller's second triumph over Phillips in a bitter leadership contest last month.

However, in an effort to heal the divide between the factions, Simpson Miller announced the establishment of a team, Sunday, comprising the party's four vice-presidents to lead dialogue between the camps.

PNP belongs to everyone

"The PNP does not belong to me; it belongs to all of us," she told Comrades at a meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) Sunday.

"As president, I welcome all your energies and ideas, and there will always be room in the PNP for you as long as I am president," she added.

Since the election, the Simpson Miller camp has sought to consolidate her presidency by taking hold of key party positions. During last month's internal elections, three of her main supporters managed to grab three of the four vice-presidential slots.

They followed that by taking five of the six regional seats. On Sunday, the NEC named Anthony Hylton to the post of deputy chairman of the PNP.

Notwithstanding her team's agenda to limit the influence of her defeated opposition, Simpson Miller said party unity would integral to the success of the PNP's immediate prerogative and invited Phillips' supporters to assist in fulfilling the party's mission.

"The mission for this political year is to put the PNP in a state of readiness for any eventuality! We must be united. We must have a first-class set of policies to positively transform the lives of the Jamaican people. Comrades, in other words, we must be ready to govern," Simpson Miller charged.

Roll out agenda

The party president has also established a commission to roll out the party's much-talked-about progressive agenda. She said the commission will focus on the development of policies and the pursuit of equa-lity of outcome for all Jamaicans.

The commission includes officers of the party's spokespersons' council. The party's arms and affiliates had also been asked to nominate members to the commission. Simpson Miller said the terms of reference had been prepared and a draft report will be produced at the next meeting of the NEC in January.

What is the 'progressive agenda'?

The progressive agenda is undergirded by some key pillars:

A policy mix that focuses on the 'equality of outcomes'.

A commitment to economic growth and the expansion of the economic base so that more people can become owners of capital.

A commitment to the attainment of social justice.

A commitment to gender considerations in all policies and programmes.

A commitment to spiritual principles and values.

A commitment to environmental considerations.

The state, being at the forefront of social programmes that positively impact the socio-economic well-being of the people;

The above would be achieved through the forging of a people's contract between the state and citizens.

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