PNP in New Crisis … Parliamentary Group Wants Meeting With Dr. Peter Phillips

June 1, 2020 | By Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie |

We long predicted that the 81 year old People’s National Party (PNP) is in crisis following the cancer diagnosis of Dr. Peter Phillips their president and Official Opposition leader of Jamaica. Vision Newspaper carried this assessment.

You will recall that Dr. Peter Phillips was challenged by MP Peter Bunting 59, a PNP MP for Central Manchester, for leadership of the PNP. He lost by one percent or 76 votes. Some 3000+ delegates voted.

Reshuffle

The majority of the members of the
the parliamentary group have defected to the pro Bunting “Rise United” faction. We knew trouble was on the horizon after the results. The chickens seem to have now come home to roost. Is Mr. Peter Bunting causing the renewed undercurrent of discontent? We cannot say for sure if it ever went away since the leadership challenge. We are not sure, but would not be surprised if this is so.

Uncertainty

The PNP parliamentary group consist mainly of the Official Spokespersons. There was a reshuffle of the Spokespersons after the leadership challenge in the fall of 2019. Has this reshuffle come to haunt Dr. Peter Phillips? There was discontent after certain changes were made. Some former holders now dumped, felt sidelined.

We sit on the edge of our seats as we wait to see what will unfold from such a meeting.

Upcoming General Elections

It is no secret that if it were not for the onset of COVID 19, Jamaicans could have gone to the polls already. This is legally due in the first quarter of 2021. In case of an outbreak of war etc. this date can be pushed up to (6) six months after March 2021. The PM can call elections when he pleases before the Constitutional due date. It is our view that the “summer of discontent” which seems to be brewing in the PNP is likely to lead to a winter of political “despair” for Dr. Peter Phillips. We have to wait and see.

Cancer Diagnosis

Doctors who form Dr. Peter Phillips medical team said his prognosis for full recovery was good. An independent opinion endorsed that medical view with reservations. Lifestyle and age have been factored into this independent assessment of Dr. Peter Phillips’ suitability going forward. The parliamentary group may have viewed his suitability to lead negatively.

Can Dr. Peter Phillips 70, handle the rigours of a political campaign after his stage 3 cancer diagnosis and subsequent surgery and now chemotherapy?

Opinion Polls

Opinion polls have Dr. Phillips and the PNP at least 12 percent behind the JLP prior to March 2020 when COVID was not top on the World’s agenda and of course Jamaica’s.

Social Media

The leadership of PM Holness as it relates to his handling of COVID 19 has been seen as superb. Jamaica is on a top 20 list in the world. Deaths are relatively low at 9 and we seemed to have flattened the infection curve of under 600 cases and over 200+ recoveries or about 45 percent.

Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie has watched politics in Jamaica for 40 years. He is Senior National & International Correspondent for Vision Newspaper