July 20 deadline for possible Portia challengers

July 20 is the deadline for nominations to be in for the various leadership posts in the People’s National Party’s (PNP) ahead of its annual conference in September, the party’s secretariat has advised.

The nominations will be open on July 13.

PNP President, Portia Simpson Miller, has indicated that she will be seeking re-election at the conference, and the focus is shifting to her possible challengers.

Former PNP General Secretary, Peter Bunting, has signalled his intention to seek the presidency of the party, but it remains unclear if he is up to challenging Simpson Miller.

But meanwhile, supporters of former Vice-President of the party, Dr Peter Phillips, are pushing the line that it is Phillips' time to take the reins of the party.

Former Youth and Culture Minister, Lisa Hanna, and former Tourism Minister, Dr Wykeham McNeill, have also signaled their intentions to contest at the vice-presidential level.