PNP eyes National Stadium in anticipation of huge conference
Published:Monday | July 25, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Erica Virtue, Senior Gleaner Writer
Buoyed by what it said was a massive showing of People's National Party (PNP) supporters in Mandeville last Thursday night for the culmination meeting of its two-day bus tour, and heartened by an even 'better showing' of its finances compared to last year, party officials say they are expecting a huge crowd at its 73rd annual conference this September.
Seventy-two hours after completing the 12-parish bus tour, General Secretary Peter Bunting claimed Jamaicans' response made it very clear they are ready to return the PNP to power.
Bunting, in a post National Executive Council (NEC) press briefing at the University of the West Indies, St Andrew, yesterday, said the party might have to take its annual conference to a non-contained venue.
"Judging from the Mandeville meeting ... it was massive ... , if just that crowd alone turned up, we would be in enormous trouble at the National Arena," Bunting said.
According to the general secretary, during last year's annual conference when the momentum was just beginning, an estimated 27,000 people were in attendance, half of whom were outside.
Bunting and Deputy General Secretary Julian Robinson suggested the National Stadium was a distinct possibility.
"We may just have to have an outdoor meeting, instead of having it in a covered area, because other than the stadium, I don't know of any other venue that could take 30,000 persons," Bunting said.
He noted that he was also pleased with the party's financial position, although there was never enough to manage the day-to-day administrative functions.
Last year, the PNP became the first to publish audited financial statements, and promised it would do so this year as well.
Addressing the issue of party unity, following the fallout between Dr Peter Phillips, who unsuccessfully challenged PNP President Portia Simpson Miler in 2008, Bunting said the issue was put to rest.
"The party leader spoke directly to the issue of unity," he said, noting that Simpson Miller explained to the NEC that "this issue of party divisions, and challenges, she has put down long ago, and that she has moved on".
He added: "I feel very comfortable that it (unity) is not an issue at this time."
No challengers
Robinson said the Simpson Miller and four incumbent vice-presidents would be returned en-bloc as there were no written indicators by prospective challengers - a requirement the party put in two years ago.
The general secretary also said the party's long-awaited Progressive Agenda would be rolled out in another six weeks and individual spokespersons would address their areas.
The issue of energy, he said, will take centre stage in view of the persistent calls for a re-negotiation of the contract with the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) as more and more consumers tell stories of massive, unexplained light bills.
Bunting said many persons have been disappointed, including some in the party, about the length of time it was taking to roll-out, but he made it clear that it was not to be confused with a manifesto.
Yesterday's NEC meeting was the final one before annual conference, which is traditionally held in the third week of September. Sixty-one of the 63 candidates who will face the polls in the next general election are now in place.