Breaking News: Portia Walks After Crushing Local Government Defeat

We at Vision Newspaper have received information that Jamaican Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller will step down as the leader of the Peoples National Party (PNP) following the landslide Government defeat to the JLP.

There has been calls for renewal in the 78 year old PNP … having been founded in 1938. Portia has been under tremendous pressur as Hanna and others have been turning up the heat for her to go, since the PNP’s shock loss to the JLP in February 2016 General Elections.

Lisa “Jezabel” Hanna has been under sustained pressure herself also, as she lost what was considered one of, if not the safest PNP divisions, that of Montague. That Division, in living political history …. no one can recall the PNP losing that seat since 1944.

Today, Sunday December 4, the second highest decision making body met, the National Executive Council (NEC) and with much reluctance Portia bowed to pressure and offered her resignation. Her time table is inter alia: “I will not leave before February 2017, but officially hand over at the next PNP Annual Conference due September 2017.

September 2016

It was only September 2016 that Portia received a new mandate to lead the party, having been challenged by Dr. Karl Blythe, a former VP and Cabinet Minister.

It was also 2006 that Portia beat Dr. Peter Phillips for the presidency of the PNP.

JLP

There is talk about a snap General Elections, as the PNP appears to be in disarray.

Andrew would like to get a stronger mandate as the one seat majority has its challenges.

Interesting times are ahead in Jamaica’s political landscape.

Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie is Senior International Correspondent & photojournalist for Vision Newspaper Canada.