PNP young blood welcomed
Published:Tuesday | June 14, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Officials of the United States Embassy in Kingston welcomed the People's National Party's (PNP) decision to select beauty queen Lisa Hanna to represent the party in the 2007 general election and her subsequent victory at the polls.
The views of the embassy officials based in Jamaica at the time were contained in a diplomatic cable dated March 2008, six months after the PNP lost the general election.
According to the cable, the future of the PNP was in question after its defeat at the polls.
"If the PNP is to reinvent itself, it will need strong leadership and fresh faces and voices," the cable said.
"The one bright new member of the 2007 (PNP) members of parliament is Lisa Hanna. A first-time member of parliament for the St Ann South East constituency, she is a former Miss Jamaica who is proving to be very successful and popular in her new role as opposition spokesperson for information and youth," added the cable.
Positive reception
According to the diplomatic note: "She (Hanna) has had a very positive reception from her constituency and media."
Hanna was selected by PNP President Portia Simpson Miller to replace Aloun Assamba as the party's representative in South East St Ann shortly before the 2007 general election.
The party needed a replacement for Assamba, who had quit representational politics after a reported falling out with some influential constituents.
The choice of the former Miss World for the seat was a winner for Simpson Miller despite concerns from some persons in the party.
Replacing ageing top tier
According to the cable, the infusion of Hanna, Kern Spencer and Peter Bunting was an apparent attempt by the PNP to replace some ageing members in the top tier of the party.
The cable said: "Kern Spencer was also elected as part of the infusion of youth in the PNP, but was awaiting trial for corruption over involvement in the Cuban light-bulb affair; his future is not clear."
The embassy called Bunting a successful investment banker, but said, "His track record is not spotless."