Re-elected Opposition People's National Party (PNP) Leader, Portia Simpson-Miller, named her new Shadow Cabinet this afternoon.
(Well, she really calls them her "Council of Spokespersons".)
This follows the resignation of Dr. Peter Phillips and Mrs. Maxine Henry-Wilson, Ms. Sharon Haye-Webster and Mr. Dean Peart (all supporters of Dr. Phillips), between Monday-Tuesday of last week, as a result of Dr. Peter Phillips' failed bid for the PNP Presidency.
Mrs. Simpson-Miller formally dismantled the Shadow Cabinet on Wednesday, September 24, due to the above resignations.
The new 20-member Council of Spokespersons consists of the following persons:
- Porta Simpson-Miller - Leader of the Opposition
- A.J. Nicholson - Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate and Opposition Spokesman (OS) on Justice and Constitutional Affairs
- Derick Kellier - Leader of Opposition Business in the House of Representatives (a position formerly held by Dr. Peter Phillips) and OS on Labour and Social Security
- Natalie Neita-Headly -Deputy Leader Opposition Business and OS on the Public Service
- Basil Waite - OS on Education
- Peter Bunting - OS on National Security and Electoral Matters
- Wykeham McNeil - OS on Tourism and Entertainment
- Fenton Ferguson - OS on Health
- Sandrae Falconer - OS on Gender and Religious Affairs
- Robert (Bobby) Pickersgill - OS on Housing and Infrastructure
- Michael Peart - OS on Mining
- Lisa Hanna - OS on Information, Youth and Culture
- Noel Arscott - OS on Environment, Science and Technology
- Roger Clarke - OS on Agriculture, Lands and Rural Development
- Anthony Hylton - OS on Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade
- Ian Hayles - OS on Invetsment and Development
- Mark Golding - OS on Industry and Commerce
- Phillip Paulwell - OS on Energy and Telecommunications
- Omar Davies - OS on Finance
- Colin Fagan - OS on Local Government and Community Development
(Dr. Peter Phillips did not offer himself for selection as an Officer in the Party.)
Mrs. Simpson-Miller says her new Council of Spokespersons reflects the PNP's Progressive Agenda and hence emphasizes experience, renewal and the rejuvenation of the Peoples National Party.
But one truly wonders how much renewal will actually take place given the fact that only two (2) of Peter Phillips' supporters: Dr. Wykeham McNeil and Fenton Ferguson, are in this new Shadow Cabinet.
From radio and TV interviews conducted amongst Mrs. Simpson-Miller's Party supporters, it seems that they felt that she needed to have "swept house" (gotten rid of/sidelined) Dr. Phillips' supporters in order to move the PNP forward and to squash any more infightings and uprisings in the Party...
...It seems that Mrs. Simpson-Miller did just that.
Mrs. Simpson-Miller has said that should the PNP become government, her Cabinet would consist of select persons from the afore-mentioned list of Spokepersons.
Mrs. Simpson is slated to name the deputies to some of the above key posts, soon...she says that these deputies will ensure continuity in the Party and thus will mostly consist of younger PNP loyalitsts.
Girl With a Purpose (GWAP) Blog wants to congratulate all the above Spokespersons and wishes them a succesful tenure that will reflect the interests of the Jamaican people.
Gillian
Sources Include
1) Power 106 FM,September 29, 2008
2) Nationwide Radio, September 29, 2008
3) List of Council of Spokespersons, PNP website, September 29, 2008
4) Article, "More PNP Resignations - Party dissolves Council of Spokespersons", Jamaica Observer News Section, September 24, 2008
