Jamaica’s former Finance Minister, Dr. Peter Phillips to contest leadership of opposition party
Less than a year after she led the People’s National Party (PNP) into defeat in the general elections, Portia Simpson Miller, is stepping down a few days shy of her 71st birthday.
One of the persons in the race for the position is former finance minister, Dr. Peter Phillips, who on two occasions failed to win the presidency. Phillips, who served as finance minister in Simpson-Miller’s administration, says when the arrangements are in place for elections to be held for the presidency “I intend to offer myself,” noting that it was also important to recognise and pay service to Simpson Miller, who led the party after former Prime Minister PJ Patterson bowed out of politics in 2007.
The following year – in 2008, Phillips challenged Simpson Miller for the post . Although unsuccessful, he remained one of the most influential members of the PNP, in and out of government.
On Sunday, Simpson Miller announced her decision not to seek re-election when the party holds its elections next September. She had been under constant pressure to step down after leading the then ruling party into defeat in the February 25 general election.
