The Future of the PNP

In early September, the People’s National Party (PNP) suffered a significant and humiliating loss to the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) in the general election. The final ballot counts showed that the PNP will serve another term as the opposition. They won 14 seats in the lower house compared to the JLP-led government that won a considerable majority with 49 seats.

The loss revealed many things but more than anything, it has shown the deep-rooted division within the PNP. The loss also shows how this division has reduced national confidence in the party, even among their base supporters. Former Leader of the Opposition, Dr Peter Phillips announced after the loss that he would be stepping down party president. Phillips did not act on his promise immediately after the dust settled. I am presuming that he was laying the foundation for a smooth and peaceful transition. Nevertheless, a harshly worded letter signed by the PNP Youth Organisation (PNPYO) president Krystal Tomlinson followed shortly after that. It demanded Phillips' resignation. The letter firmly repeated the words “change or die”, in addressing the survival of the PNP. It was another timely example of how deeply divided the party is.

Notwithstanding this, the nomination period opened, and both Mark Golding and Lisa Hanna put their hat in the ring. Both campaigns were heavily focused on unity and the restoration of the PNP’s dominance.

Mark Golding is a second-term member of parliament representing the St. Andrew South constituency. He has been in parliament since 2007 when he was appointed a Senator and served under the Portia Simpson-Miller led government as Minister of Justice from 2012 to 2016.

Lisa Hanna, on the other hand, has a longer career in representational politics. She is entering her fourth term as a member of parliament for Southeast St. Ann. She has also served as Minister of Youth and Culture and Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.

Hanna focused her campaign more on her experience and what she could bring to the party because of this. However, many expressed doubts in her abilities to lead because of her narrow win in the recent election. Others believed that the former Miss World was the only candidate with the public image strong enough to challenge Andrew Holness’ well-oiled PR machinery.

And while unification of the party was a common thread in both campaign’s messages, Mark Golding’s message seemed to have resonated more with the PNP delegates. Golding’s campaign focused on introducing him to Jamaica. He sold himself as an unseasoned politician with the right skill set to achieve real unity in the party. This saw him defeating Hanna 1,740 to 1,444 votes in the recent leadership race.

Golding was sworn as party president and automatically the new Leader of the Opposition last week. However, the questions linger. Will he be the change? Will he be the man to return the PNP to its former glory? Will he be able to help with the healing process? Will he unify an evidently divided party? I like the rest of Jamaica will continue to watch and wait as the answers reveal themselves in the future of the PNP.