‘Comradery’ underlines 79th conference
IN MAKING no secret of their intention to reclaim the reins of governance, solidarity shone brightest yesterday at the National Arena in Kingston as thousands of euphoric Comrades banded together for an incident-free final day of the People’s National Party’s (PNP) 79th annual conference at the National Arena in Kingston.
“There’s no division in the party,” PNP General Secretary Julian Robinson told The Gleaner as he said that all members of the party were out in support of Dr Peter Phillips and his vision to drive the movement forward.
Robinson said one of the many successes of the 79th staging was the private session with delegates, during which the number of groups per constituency was capped, as well as the role of members of parliament in the constitution formalised.
Former parliamentarian Damion Crawford said he believed the party was functioning on one accord, stating that the conference was a day to “resist the other side” despite internal differences.
While scanty in number early on, the first omen of a party, like atmosphere in the making came shortly after 11 a.m., as Basil Waite took to the podium to introduce the party’s executive body, beginning with the ‘Chairman for Life’, Robert Pickersgill, who was greeted with rapturous applause.
MASSIVE CROWD
Minutes later, on the outside, Comrades were sent scampering under tents for shelter as light rainfall threatened to put a damper on the celebrations.
As time continued to tick away, Jamaica Urban Transit Company buses and Coasters arrived, causing the crowd to swell beyond the confines of the National Arena.
By 2 p.m., the venue was bursting at the seams, much to the chagrin of the police and security personnel tasked with manning entry points.
While admitting that persons had displayed rowdy behaviour over the four days, police personnel confirmed that the event saw just a few friendly verbal skirmishes, none of which turned violent.
The entrance of PNP heavyweights past and present would continue to reinvigorate the crowd at intervals, perhaps none more so than new kid on the block, Dr Shane Alexis, who raised his clenched fist high as supporters engulfed him en route to the arena.
As expected, immediate PNP past president Portia Simpson Miller and former president P.J. Patterson also enjoyed much fanfare.
Banners, horns and flags were also in abundance, with those sporting them passionately calling for a speedy return to power.
DR SHANE Alexis, the People’s National Party (PNP) candidate in St Mary South East, told hundreds of delegates and supporters attending the public session of the 79th annual conference of the party yesterday that he was the right doctor for the constituency in a battle of doctors seeking to become member of parliament.
Alexis, and Dr Norman Dunn of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), are seeking to replace Dr Winston Green, who died suddenly in August.
Dunn, who lost to the late Green by five votes, is a pharmacist.
But, Alexis, a Cuba-trained medical doctor, led a large team from the constituency to the conference and excited the crowd with his declaration that, “My name is Dr Shane Alexis and I am the right doctor for South East St Mary.”
“My grandmother call me ‘Sugar
Shane’. So you can call me Sugar Shane if you like. I studied in Cuba. I learnt what social work is. I learnt to work
with people. I learnt to listen to people ... . I came back to Jamaica and Dr Peter Phillips gave me a call and he said, ‘Shane, a your time fi come forward. Step forward, my son. South East St Mary want you ...’,” Alexis told the conference to ear-splitting applause, shouts and music.
He said the choice among young professionals like himself was either to come forward and give back or shut up. He said he chose to come forward with the PNP all the way.
Described by former PNP President Portia Simpson Miller as the best choice for the constituency, Alexis lifted both hands to the crowd, telling them his hands were clean and safe.
“You see how mi shirt clean. And mi hands dem clean. These are safe hands for South East St Mary. I don’t carry no baggage. I don’t have no secret for anybody and I have integrity. I walked into politics and not on my knees, and I will walk out one day,” said Alexis, who had the audience eating out of his hands.