PNP NEC heads to St Ann

Following its 72nd annual conference last week, the Opposition People's National Party (PNP) will today head to St Ann where its National Executive Council (NEC) will select an 11-member executive to lead the party's affairs.

Robert Pickersgill, the party's chairman, yesterday told The Sunday Gleaner that the positions of some members of the executive who served last year could be challenged, but he was not anticipating a move on his seat.

"There possibly could be changes to the executive because it is the new members of the NEC who will be voting," said Pickersgill, who is in his 19th year as PNP chairman.

He, however, said that he was unaware of any challenges being planned. "A campaign could not be kept so quiet," Pickersgill said.

The PNP executive comprises officers Portia Simpson Miller (president), vice-presidents Angela Brown Burke, Dr Fenton Ferguson, Derrick Kellier, and Noel Arscott.

It is also made up of the general secretary, Peter Bunting; two deputy general secretaries, Julian Robertson and Luther Buchanan; treasurer Mark Golding; legal adviser A.J. Nicholson; deputy chairman Anthony Hylton; and Pickersgill, the chairman.

Presentations to be made

According to Pickersgill, while the NEC business today is primarily to elect the executive, Simpson Miller and Bunting will make presentations. He said the discussions could also centre on whether the party should contest North East St Ann, should the seat be made vacant.

North East St Ann has been represented by the Jamaica Labour Party's Shahine Robinson since 2001. Last week, she was booted from Parliament by the court after she admitted to being a United States citizen, which disqualifies her from sitting in the legislature.

The PNP has not yet decided if it would contest a by-election should one be ordered by the court.