A Knight on a roll - Veteran Comrade relishes surge in personal, party popularity

Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer

He was constantly at the forefront of the 11-spot and two mass meetings of the People's National Party (PNP) two-day bus tour last week.

He remains outside the officer corps of the party. But with his popularity soaring to hitherto unknown heights, K.D. Knight, has taken on the role of precursor of sorts to PNP President Portia Simpson Miller at party meetings.

His response was a simple 'yea', when asked whether he believed that his popularity is the highest it has ever been since he entered politics in the 1960s.

He also agreed that it was ironic that this level of "stardom" has descended on him after his four terms in representational politics.

A big part of the 'meeting and greeting' team, Knight, the senior counsel for the PNP at the Manatt-Dudus Commission of Enquiry in the first half of 2010, addressed Comrades at all stop points as did Simpson Miller.

Knight is relishing the spotlight signing scores of autographs on orange flags for adoring loyalists.

Dr Peter Phillips who shared the stage with members of the PNP leadership was less conspicuous.

If this was a plan hatched by the strategists to push Knight forward, it seemed to have worked.

Phillips, the PNP campaign director asserted that it was fitting that Knight assumed a prominent role, as he had been instrumental in getting what was dubbed a bus tour protest on its way.

Accordingly, Phillips said Knight and Simpson Miller were the only two persons who spoke on all platforms throughout the trip.

"K.D. has been the figure who has impressed upon the party that the dismal findings and performance of the commission of enquiry in Manatt should not go without some formal expression of protest on the part of the People's National Party on behalf of the country," said Phillips.

prominence and presence

He said by virtue of the role played by Knight, it was a 'considered decision' that his role, prominence and presence should be pronounced throughout the campaign.

"It was good, as there was obviously much resonance not only with supporters but in the popular culture for his role in Manatt and his characterisation of the prime minister," said Phillips.

For his part, Knight acknowledged, almost with humility, that his performance at the Manatt-Dudus Commission of Enquiry had worked wonders for him.

"(I am) out of representational politics. I am not seeking any office in the party, but I think what has happened is that this is made by a judgement by the people of my performance during the Manatt enquiry."

Asked whether this new-found popularity has tempted him in returning to representational politics, Knight declared: "Not at all ... my mind is made up, my mind was made up from 2004. I announced it in 2005 to a lot of persons and the decision in 2006, coinciding with (P.J.) Patterson's retirement."

But Knight stressed that he would be supporting his party for a long time to come. "As long as I have health and strength," he asserted.

It was the abbreviated phrase "Bruce Must Go" that reverberated throughout the two-day tour as the convoy of motor vehicles rolled to temporary halts in townships and capitals.

If that was not enough, there was the very visible 'packed bags' imagery depicting Knight's demand on Golding at the Commission of Enquiry.

Simpson Miller's popularity on the ground has been reflected in the polls.

So does that of the contrastingly sedate Phillips, the man still viewed by many Jamaicans as heir apparent to Simpson Miller.

From the moment, the convoy was formed at the Naggo Head square in South St Catherine, the crowd continued to swell.

It was transformed into a massive sea of orange, stretching into the distance when the tour culminated at the Mandeville square in Manchester.

John Junor seemed beside himself by the sea of orange, using colourful superlatives to describe the throng that descended into the Central Manchester constituency that he represented between 1989 and 2007

As it is with poll results, politicians revel in numbers, when they find favour with the figures.

This was no less so Thursday night.

"It exceeded all our expectations," gushed PNP general secretary Peter Bunting.

It was a sentiment that was later echoed by Phillips, a man not normally given to displays of emotion. "I thought it was exceptionally successful. The passion and enthusiasms expressed to us in the leadership of the PNP exceeded my own expectations."

Phillips said he was encouraged that the passion displayed was not confined to orange-clad party adherents of the PNP. "It was also expressed when you passed business places, the shops, offices and Government business from which the workers and visitors came out to show their support."

Numerous Comrades clamoured for a numerical assessment of the throng, hoping that they will hear figures in the tens of thousands.

It was much easier to say that the turnout of support over the two days was most impressive.

Asked what the two-day event signified to the PNP hierarchy, Bunting claimed that the turnout suggested people on the ground are ready, militant and fed up with the Golding administration.

"They coming out in mass numbers was a demonstration of their feeling," Bunting declared.

He said that to organise 11 spot meetings and two mass meetings over a 48-hour period and moving the leadership across 11 parishes to do that is saying it was a huge logistical challenge.

"I think the fact that we executed it almost flawlessly tells us that the party organisation is in good shape," asserted Bunting.

The PNP general secretary does not believe that he is premature in suggesting that the two-day political gala will translate into election victory in another year or so.

"Absolutely," Bunting declared in response to the question. "It confirms in a sense what the polls have been telling us.

"But going on the ground and getting the response seems to corroborate the numbers that have been published in the polls."

He said the polls have been suggesting that the PNP were so far ahead that people have been finding it difficult to believe.