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The reintegration of Dr Phillips
Monday, November 02, 2009
Having contested and lost twice, Dr Peter Phillips is possibly irreparably damaged in terms of ambitions he may still have to lead the opposition People's National Party (PNP).
Though, as we all know, politics is an extraordinarily dynamic force capable of providing the most startling turnabouts.
To be sure, the careers of current prime minister and Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) leader Mr Bruce Golding and former prime minister and PNP president Mr PJ Patterson will be a source of encouragement for those of Dr Phillips' supporters who continue to cherish thoughts that he will one day lead the party.
But for the foreseeable future at least, Dr Phillips, in the parlance of Jamaican folk culture, must 'hol im corner' even as the wounds of division slowly heal and he is gradually reintegrated as a vital member of the Opposition party's hierarchy.
Hence the point made by the veteran politician in yesterday's Sunday Observer that "I don't have any plans at this time to run for any office within the party" was in effect almost superfluous.
For those of us looking on from the outside, it seems fairly obvious that the PNP, Parliament and, indeed the country, needs the experience, vision and clarity of thought that Dr Phillips brings to the process. Certainly, he is among those best able to lead self-criticism, rebuilding and rebranding, so necessary for a political party in opposition. And also, in the generation of ideas on the way forward for the country as a whole, in this time of economic and social crisis.
It is clear that his expertise and experience in the area of national security remains credible and he speaks as if he were in effect the PNP spokesman on national security, despite stripping himself of such a role, as a consequence of his leadership loss.
Of course, by putting the rider that he will not rule out what he may do in future, but will not now contest for leadership, he has left open the possibility for a future challenge. For now he has accepted the will of the delegates.
Indications are that the PNP leadership, including president Mrs Portia Simpson Miller, is cognisant of the role Dr Phillips can play. We note the words of Dr Phillips: "My personal relationship with the party leader is good. I don't have any complaints. We exchange views, share thoughts, we have had discussions; there is no rancour that I see or feel, at all. I think we recognise.that there is an urgent need for the PNP to put the past contests behind us and to move forward, and so there is no animosity."
If Dr Phillips is truly and accurately reflecting the realities in the leadership of the PNP, it seems reasonable to believe that efforts to mend fences at lower levels of the party will rapidly bear fruit. Of course, the process of healing will be hastened no end by the growing perception of a governing party in trouble, struggling to retain its balance and hold its support base in the face of economic turmoil, spiralling crime and social decay.
Ultimately, there is no greater motivation for a political party in opposition to get its act together, put aside internal differences, and unite around core issues as is the promise or prospect of an early return to political power.
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