Jamaica: Portia Simpson-Miller stepping down as leader of opposition PNP

Simpson-Miller stepping down after serving as PNP president for 11 years

The leader of the Jamaica’s main opposition People’s National Party (PNP), former Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller, on Sunday announced that she will step down from the position on April 2.

Simpson-Miller, 71, told delegates at a meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC), in the central parish of Manchester that she will submit her resignation as opposition leader to Governor General Sir Patrick Allen after she makes her contribution to the Budget Debate in Parliament.

Simpson-Miller added that while she will resign as opposition leader, she will remain the Member of Parliament for St Andrew South West.
Ahead of demitting office, the party will host a special delegates’ conference on March 26 to choose a new president.

It is expected that former Finance Minister Peter Phillips, will be nominated for the position, however, he will need at least 50 percent of delegates to affirm his presidency.
Simpson-Miller will be stepping down after serving as PNP president for 11 years and serving twice as Prime Minister. In the general election of last year, she lost to the Jamaica Labor Party’s (JLP) Andrew Holness and this prompted calls for her to give up leadership of the party and to set a timeline to step down. (CMC)