New leader of the People's National Party, Michael Manley, delivered a profound speech after being declared the winner over Mr Vivian Blake. Manley gave a glimpse into the society he hopes to create for the Jamaican people while thanking his father and late wife for their inspiration.

Published Monday, February 10, 1969

Michael Manley Is New PNP Head

DEFEATS BLAKE 376 VOTES TO 155

MICHAEL MANLEY was elected yesterday the new leader of the People’s National Party, succeeding his father, Mr Norman Manley, Q.C.

In taking over the position of leadership, Mr Manley defeated his only rival, Mr Vivian Blake, by 376 votes to 155. As the results show, the contest was not as close as was expected, but despite that, the conference was not without drama and tension as supporters of both contenders waited anxiously for the results to be announced.

Voting delegates had gathered at the National Arena from mid-morning, and when Mr Manley was declared the winner in the early afternoon, the decision was greeted with prolonged applause and shouts that were clearly audible outside the conference hall.

This part of the conference was closed to the press and the public, but there were a few reporters and hundreds of other people – mainly PNP partisans – outside the National Arena straining to hear what was being said over the loudspeaker system inside.

Later in the afternoon, the press was admitted into the hall to hear the acceptance speech, and at this stage, the accredited delegates were joined by the hundreds of persons outside so that the door space of the Arena was almost filled.

KIND OF SOCIETY

In his acceptance speech, Mr Manley, the 44-year-old Island supervisor of the National Workers Union, spelt out the kind of society he would like to see created in Jamaica.

Over and over again, he repeated the concepts of equality and social justice. He called upon all men of goodwill to come forward and make these concepts into living realities.

In his speech lasting 56 minutes and punctuated 73 times by applause, Mr Manley spoke about the problems of youth, crime, victimisation, unemployment, the “scandal of the electoral system”, corruption in high places and the need to have integrity in public life, and “the arrogance of the leadership of the Jamaica Labour Party.” A constant theme running through the speech was, as he put it, the need for national dedication “to lift the burden from the backs of the sufferers in this country”.

Manley made it quite clear that it was for the “sufferers,” the poor, and the dispossessed that he intended to engage his energies.

Manley also spoke about party unity. In this context, he had great praise for Mr Blake on whose “strength and talent” Mr Manley said he could count. The reference to Mr Blake was greeted with long applause, and the two shook hands warmly, and the audience again responded with more applause.

TRIBUTE TO FATHER

The new leader also paid tribute to his father, who has led the party from its inception in September 1938. He described the elderly Manley as a man of “selflessness, devotion, integrity, and genius”. The audience responded with a standing ovation for the parting absent leader.

 Manley also paid tribute to other leaders of the PNP, in particular to the late Noel Nethersole.

Throughout the 56 minutes that he held the stage, Mr Manley never smiled once. He gave the appearance of a determined man.

But the most sombre note was struck when he referred to his late wife, Barbara. He asked the conference to join him in a moment of silence to the memory of Mrs Manley, “without whose inspiration”, he said, he would not have entered politics.

Throughout his speech, Mr Manley used quotations from only two persons: Marcus Garvey and Julius Nyerere, the president of Tanzania. And both quotations referred to the essential equality of persons.

And when he spoke of “sufferers,” Mr Manley stressed the point that this is an age of “collective leadership”. He was prepared to listen and learn. He would go to the people. He would talk to them. He would listen. He would want the views and opinions of all persons on both sides of the industry, in the professions, and in intellectual circles. Jamaica could not afford to alienate any segment of its community.

Challenge

But perhaps the greatest response Mr Manley received was when he challenged the Government with respect to the electoral system and the state of the nation generally.

“We must be prepared to serve sentences in prison” rather than see “Jamaica come to grief,” he declared amid prolonged applause.

Manley also said that he regarded next month’s local elections as the starting point of the PNP’s comeback and ended on the note that the task ahead was immense but that the opportunities were there.

At the end of the speech, the audience sang “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow” and then the chairman of the day’s proceedings, Mr David Coore, Q.C., a former vice-president, closed the conference.

Earlier, Mr Coore read a message from the former president, Mr Norman Manley, who was missing his first conference in 80 years.

Yesterday also, four vice-presidents were elected. They are Mr Blake, who received 488 votes; Mr P.J. Patterson, who got 423; Mr Howard Cooke, who got 386; and Mr Florizel Glasspole, who got 335.

All except Mr Patterson are members of the House of Representatives. Mr Patterson is a member of the Senate.

Defeated two

The four vice-presidents were elected from six persons. The two defeated candidates were Mr Dudley Thompson and Mr Noel Silvera, M.P. Mr Coore did not seek re-election but is slated to be the party’s first Chairman, in a new post.

There was also balloting for 25 members of the National Executive Council. These votes are to be counted today or tomorrow and, next Sunday, these 25 persons will elect 11 of their number to sit on the Party Executive.

Also next Sunday, the chairman, general secretary, deputy general secretary and treasurer will be elected by the executive. It is expected that Mr Coore will be elected chairman. This is the first time that the chairman will be a separate person from the president.

This afternoon, at 2.30, the new president and his four vice presidents will give a Press conference at the P.N.P. headquarters on South Camp Road.

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