Jess punches holes in reasons given by PNP to block her VP bid
Zuleika Jess has punched holes in the reasons given by the executive committee of the People’s National Party (PNP) to throw out her nomination for a vice-president (VP) post and stated that the general secretary had assured her, in a meeting on June 23, that no attempt would be made to block her candidacy.
Jess, an attorney-at-law who contested the Clarendon Central seat for the PNP in the September 2020 General Election, also rapped the party’s Executive Committee on the knuckles for not observing “the rules of natural justice” when it ruled on her nomination without allowing her to have a representative present to advance her case.
On Friday, the Jamaica Observer broke the story that the Opposition party wanted to block Jess’s nomination for one of the PNP’s four VP posts as it wanted to avoid a contest, given that the organisation is still trying to heal wounds inflicted by a divisive and unsuccessful leadership challenge to Dr Peter Phillips by Peter Bunting in 2019.
Later Friday morning, the PNP issued a release stating that Jess was not eligible to contest the position due to a number of factors, among them that her “direct membership was suspended since no payment had been made since 2018”.
Following is Jess’s full statement in response, issued Saturday night.
“I have previously hesitated to speak publicly on this matter as I believe that the institution of the People’s National Party must be protected and preserved.
Though I hesitate to discuss this issue in the public sphere, in light of the Party’s statement released to the media and other disclosures circulating in the public space, I am left with no other choice but to protect my reputation. It is all that I have.
So, notwithstanding my strong sense of loyalty to the Movement, I am now constrained to break my silence and to speak honestly and as openly as I possibly can without jeopardising the Party that we all love and wish to safeguard.
MEMBERSHIP
I first entered the People’s National Party in the year 2016, after we lost the general election. I was convinced that this was the Party that had the best interest of the people at heart, and represented the best hope to move our country forward.
By May 2017, I became a formal direct member of the Party. I was also a member of the Party through the PNPYO where I served as legal advisor and one of their NEC Reps until the year 2018 when I was appointed Chairman for the Constituency of Central Clarendon and NEC Rep for the constituency. I have remained a member of the National Executive Council (NEC) – the highest decision making body of the Party outside of Annual Conference from 2017 to present date.
Sometime in or around the year 2018, I registered various party groups within my constituency, and I also thereby became a member of the party through the group structure. I was also at this time, a member of the Patriots since 2017. I, therefore, held membership within the Party through several different avenues, simultaneously.
In light of the fact that I was now paying for all those groups, including the one for which I was a member, I formed the view that it was clearly unnecessary to continue paying the yearly subscription for my direct membership. For the avoidance of doubt, membership dues were now being paid through the group structure and not through the direct membership structure.
Unfortunately, the constituency subsequently had some challenges last year in getting the monthly group status reports from the secretariat with the result that the groups fell into abeyance.
I had previously notified the Secretariat about the fact that we were not getting the usual group reports as required under our Constitution. I was informed that there were some challenges with the group management software used by the Secretariat, and that my constituency was not the only one that had not been receiving regular monthly status reports.
I was further advised that since the fault was not on our end, we would be permitted to pay the back fees and the groups would be restored, or alternatively, we could just re-register the groups. We chose to simply re-register and did so in January of this year, at which time the requisite fees were paid, as is customary.
VICE-PRESIDENCY
I recently announced my intention to offer myself to serve as one of the four VPs within the Party. While this announcement was met with enthusiasm amongst rank and file comrades and delegates who were eager to see fresh faces and feel new energies, I will simply state that not everyone was equally enthused.
I see where it is widely circulating that various requests were made for me to stand down yet I refused. Please understand that this was not a decision that was made lightly. I considered those requests very carefully. However, I felt that I also had a duty to consider the requests from comrades on the ground who were asking me not to let them down.
I felt conflicted but ultimately, having weighed the competing requests, I came to the conclusion that the voice of the people had to take precedence, notwithstanding the highlighted political consequences.
I subsequently heard through the grapevine that an attempt would be made to prevent my nomination on the basis that I was not a member of the Party. I reviewed the constitution and formed the view that this was not a tenable argument.
Additionally, I sought independent legal advice from senior counsel who confirmed my position. I was advised that even if they were to take a technical point on my group membership, I could simply fall back on my direct membership by paying the annual subscription prior to nomination since there is no provision in our constitution that states that a direct member falls into abeyance. There is also no provision that states that a direct member is required to reapply or re-register, as is the case with group membership.
On the 23rd June 2022, I had a meeting with the general secretary and whilst I will not divulge the details of that meeting, I think it is both appropriate and relevant for me to reveal that I was assured that my membership was not an issue and that there would be no attempt to block my candidacy on that basis.
On the 6th July 2022, I informed a senior officer of the Party of the date and time of my proposed nomination. I also messaged the general secretary on the morning, having not reached him via telephone, and advised him of the time that I intended to attend for nomination. At no point was I advised that there was now an issue with my membership.
I was, therefore, quite taken aback when upon showing up for nomination, I was informed by the general secretary that my nomination would not be accepted on the basis of membership issue.
THE DECISION OF THE EXECUTIVE
Though I find it regrettable that I was not given an opportunity to be heard (whether in writing or otherwise), or even to have a representative present to advance my case before the Executive made a ruling in keeping with the rules of natural justice; I have taken the decision that I will accept their pronouncement so that there may be finality in respect of this matter and so that the party may focus its efforts on more pressing issues of national import.
THE ”OFFERS”
I have long formed the view that certain private, internal discussions should really not be disclosed publicly. It therefore causes me great angst and consternation to have to respond to this issue.
Unfortunately, since the disclosure was made on Thursday, I have been bombarded with calls from both the media and some comrades asking why I didn’t just accept one of the other positions offered in exchange for standing down and whether I was just being stubborn. This disclosure has left persons with the impression that I was unreasonable for refusing, and for that reason, I think it is only fair to explain my stance.
For me, this was never simply about getting a position. For me to therefore accept a position offered in these circumstances, just did not sit well with my spirit. I honestly gave it due consideration. But the more I thought about it, the more unsettling I found it and I feared that I would lose myself if I went down that road.
CONCLUSION
I wish to thank every single one of you for your firm and unwavering support. I was genuinely surprised by the warm, enthusiastic and encouraging reception from comrades, strangers and well-wishers. I am thankful for relationships built and invaluable insight gained.
While I do not yet know exactly what will be the next step forward, I do know that I will honour all of my previous commitments and engagements.
I also know that the People’s National Party remains the best hope to move Jamaica forward and that the institution must be preserved. I lift my hat in salute to all the warriors fighting on the battlefield. As Michael Manley stated, our Movement is irreversible because our cause is just.
The word is and will always be love.