1:00pm – 2:00pm LUNCH • Call to Order / Devotion / National Anthem / Jamaica Arise • Chairman’s Opening Remarks – Cde Angela Brown Burke • Adoption of Agenda • Roll Call • Decisions of 84th Annual National Conference • Declaration/Ratification of the President and 4 Vice Presidents • Party President Opens Conference – Cde Mark J. Golding, MP • Reports o Chairman o Deputy Chairman o Vice Presidents o Legal Advisor o Parliamentary Report o Questions and Discussion o Regions o Questions and Discussion o Commissions* o Questions and Discussion o Arms and Affiliates** o OT Fairclough Trust Fund o Councillor Caucus o Questions and Discussion • Ratification of Resolutions Settled by the NEC on Behalf of Conference 2022*** • Resolutions to the 85th Annual Conference o A Covenant with the People of Jamaica – Outlining Priority o Sanctions Against Members Derelict in Attending Meetings o Orientation Programme Requirement o Sanctions for Breaching Trust • Structures Review Committee Report • Call to Order / Devotion / National Anthem/Jamaica Arise • Roll Call • Chairman’s Opening Remarks – Cde Dr Angela Brown Burke • Discussion on Constitutional Reform • Policy and Vision Document • Address by Former Party President – Cde The Most Hon. PJ Patterson • General Secretary’s Report – Cde Dr Dayton Campbell • Adoption of Political Work Programme • Election Preparedness – Cde Dr Dayton Campbell • Closing of Private Session – Party President, Cde Mark Golding • Adjournment and Jamaica Arise Devotion: Cde Rev. Paul Blake Jr. *Commissions Policy & Vision Political Education & Training Human Rights International & Diaspora Affairs Internal Affairs OT Fairclough **Arms & Affiliates PNP YO NWU Women’s Movement Patriots PNP UK Jamaica Progressive League/Jamaica National Movement ***These resolutions are those pertaining to the Constitution and the Bye-Laws of the Party. Devotion: Cde Pauline Foster Grant Session One 11:00 am - 11:30 am Session Two 11:30 am - 1:00 pm Session Three 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm Session Four 10:00 am to 1:00 pm Session Five 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm Session Six 4:30 pm to 5:00 pm 1:00pm – 2:00pm LUNCH Day Two: Saturday, September 16, 2023 Day One: Friday, September 15, 2023 Agenda People’s National Party 85th Annual National Conference Theme: TIME COME NOW!!!
This year we celebrate the 85th anniversary of our beloved party under the continued theme, “Time Come Now”. As we reflect on the remarkable history of the People’s National Party (PNP), let us pay homage to the bold visionaries who dared to dream of a New Jamaica emerging from the colonial experience, and through courageous action proceeded to change the trajectory of our nation’s history. Eighty-five years ago, our party emerged with a mission rooted in social justice, equality and inclusivity. Since then, even as our methods and approaches have had to adapt to shifting geopolitical realities, we have remained steadfast in upholding these values. Our party’s legacy is a testament to the enduring spirit of the Jamaican people. Over the years, we have led the way by advancing progressive policies to transform our nation from the structures left behind by slavery and colonialism. We have been a beacon of hope for the Jamaican people, advancing the rights and quality of life of the marginalized and the voiceless, and standing firm in defence of Jamaica’s democratic system of governance and integrity in public affairs. Our commitment to justice and REPORT FROM THE: party president mark golding, MP SEPTEMBER 2022 – JULY 2023 2
3 empowerment for all Jamaicans remains unwavering. Comrades, we are once again at a time when we must all re-energize our dedication to the mission, always guided by the principles that have inspired us for nearly a century. We must stay true to our core values of social justice and equality, and we must proceed with the strength of unity. Our responsibility is to work tirelessly to create a Jamaica where every citizen enjoys access to first class education, healthcare and inclusive economic opportunities for advancement. Time come for us to lead Jamaica in a new direction to make this vision a reality. Even as we commemorate our 85th anniversary, we must acknowledge that our journey is far from complete. The challenges facing our nation are unrelenting, so our call to action must be stronger than ever, inspired and emboldened by the great sacrifices and achievements of those who came before us. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to each one of you - our dedicated members, officers, supporters and friends, for your steadfast commitment to the People’s National Party. As we usher in the new political year, I humbly seek your continued support as we work together to shape the destiny of our beloved nation with the interests of the people at the centre of of our political thought and action. Comrade Mark J. Golding, MP President of the People’s National Party 3
AmazingEvents Concept, Decor,EventPlanning 876 823 4434 AmazingEventscongratulatesPNP on their Anniversary
REPORTS
T his report covers the period September 2022 and July 2023. Please allow me to start the report for thanking the members of the NEC for re-electing me as Chairman. Many thanks to members who have reached out to me from time to time with suggestions to improve the quality and impact of the Party’s Work including those who have provided valuable critique on how our meetings, programs and activities are received and what could be done differently for greater impact. Your input has been invaluable as I work along with the Party Leader, the General Secretary, Officers, and members of the Executive in shaping the work we do. NEC & Executive and Other Meetings I have attended and chaired the 7 NEC meetings during the period. I also chaired Executive meetings and co-chaired the Extended Parliamentary group meetings during this period. Apologies were tendered for two meetings as I was overseas. . In doing so I have tried to be impartial and to ensure that space is provided for all comrades to feel comfortable in expressing their views. I am always mindful that the meetings can’t go on indefinitely, but members must have an opportunity to contribute and express themselves. By and large these meetings have been conducted and received in a comradely spirit even when comrades are asked to limit their interventions or when decisions taken do not support the view they have placed on the table. I am grateful that the robust discussions at these meetings clearly indicates that democracy is alive and well within our Party. I urge all comrades to continue protecting the democratic space while understanding the balance we have to achieve between expressing our opinions and allowing others to do so within the limited time of each meeting. In addition to greater discipline in our discourse I believe that much more can be achieved if we actually start on time. We’ve agreed to start within 15 minutes of the start time, and I must thank those who habitually arrive for an on time start. We started the year with an excellent record of maintaining confidentiality for our Executive and NEC. Since then we have had some leaks primarily around the details of the candidate selection process. I remind members that sometimes, especially for Executive meetings information is shared in the process of coming to a decision. It is important that the Secretariat has an opportunity to where this information with the affected parties before any public announcement is made. CHAIRMAN dr. ANGELA BROWN BURKE, JP SEPTEMBER 2022 – JULY 2023 REPORT FROM THE: 6
7 I have also had the opportunity to participate in meetings of the Regional Executive Council and / The Regional Management Committees in all Regions except Region Six. I do hope to be able to complete all regions by the time we get to Annual Conference. Election Preparedness and Candidate Selection As Co-Chair of the LGE Committee I must express my appreciation for members of the team and the work they have been doing. In particular, I want to mention the Parish Managers who have been on the ground, many still engaged although those activities are down to a throttle as we move to settle candidates at the Constituency level. Cde. Maureen Webber has been tireless in the leading the development and roll out of training and assessment, much of which has been done online. The Training material has been developed in collaboration with Deputy General Secretaries Skeffery and Burchell. Co-Chair Mikael Philips and the officers and members of the LGE Committee have also been fully engaged. I have also participated as part of the team meeting with comrades who have requested a forum to air important issues affecting them at different levels in the Party and across several Constituencies in St. Catherine, Manchester, St Elizabeth, Hanover, Westmoreland, and Kingston & St. Andrew. This year, I am very pleased that our Divisional Leaders, like they did last year, have kept the bar high in the staging of Divisional Conferences. I have had the pleasure of participating in several across the country. The attendance has been excellent, vibes top notch and discussions encouraging. The campaign has been a long one and sometimes energies do wane, but “steadfast in spirit our goals we will gain.” Support for Party Leader’s Road Program Participation of the local leadership has been impressive for the road program during the period. The Comrade Leader has been well received on each occasion by residents and the spot meetings have left many re-energized. I was able to join the tour in Manchester, St. Ann, St. Catherine, St. James as well as the Operation Pride Tours. Our engagement with residents in communities like St. Benedicts, Melbrook Heights clearly evidenced the tremendous impact these housing projects have had on the residents. Special Activities Unfortunately, this has been a very difficult year with the transition of several comrades. I attended the funerals / nine night/ orange night for Cde Simone Guy Former Councillor Candidate; Cde Lucius Thomas Former Candidate for NW St. Ann; Cde Lesmore Williams (Life Member of the NEC), ) Cde Delano Franklyn Former Senator, Cde Eileen from Central Kingston one of our Road Runners, Gary Robotham, Cde. Junta Hague (Ms June) from West Portland, Cde Theresa Pink-McTavish from St. Mary Special thanks to the regions who hosted demonstrations whether it was the dead baby issue or the postponement of the Local Government Elections. I was able to attend the ones in Region three. They were well supported and the comments from passersby were very encouraging. Another signal that Jamaicans are eager to see and hear us. Conclusion I believe you will all agree with me that the work done by our Councillors and Divisional candidates and their teams, the Regions led by the Regional officers and our officers and everyone on the ground has also influenced the improved position in which we find ourselves. So please accept my appreciation for the work you’ve all been doing carrying the Party’s message and engaging Jamaicans of all walks of life. As we move forward I implore you to keep focused on the work that is ahead, making sure we take nothing for granted and ensuring that we become true advocates and representatives for our Jamaican Brothers and Sisters. Dr. Angela Brown Burke, MP Chairman
Executive Summary This Annual Report provides an overview of the activities and developments at the People’s National Party Secretariat during the political year September 2022 to July 2023. It highlights some of the significant events, including the addition of a new security company, Secure Security Limited, and the recruitment of new staff members. Furthermore, the report acknowledges the inclusion of individuals who were previously not part of the staff but have now been officially added to the staff complement. It will also highlight some of the challenges that we face at the secretariat with the limited resources. Security Enhancement: During the political year the Secretariat took steps to enhance its security measures by engaging the services of a reputable security company, Secure Security Company Limited. The addition of this new security provider aims to bolster the overall security posture of the Secretariat. Staff Updates: a) New Staff Members: The Secretariat welcomed two new staff members during the political year. John Polack and Nathan Curtis joined the organisation. Their roles and responsibilities within the Secretariat are as follows: • Nathan Curtis was added to the staff compliment in June of this year as the Database/ IT Specialist. Nathan brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field of information technology, and we are confident that his skills will greatly contribute to the success of our organisation. We are confident that Nathan Curtis’s expertise and dedication will contribute significantly to the success of Secretariat. His responsibilities as the Database/IT Specialist will ensure the smooth functioning of our IT infrastructure, enhance data management practices, and provide technical support to all employees. • John Polack was added to the staff as our night security. Since April 2023 the Secretariat has prioritised bolstering security measures, particularly during night-time operations. Recognising the importance of safeguarding the secretariat’s premises during non-working hours, the decision was made to hire a dedicated night security personnel. Comrade John Polack was selected and appointed to fulfil this crucial role. a) Staff Complement Adjustments: In addition to the new staff members, the Secretariat adjusted its staff complement by officially including individuals who were previously not part of the staff but had REPORT FROM THE: GENERAL SECRETARY Dr. Dayton Campbell SEPTEMBER 2022 – JULY 2023 8
9 been contributing to the Secretariat operations. We also made changes to some of the duties that they now perform. • Comrade Pauline Frew was added to the staff compliment. Her responsibilities are the maintenance of the conference rooms, bathrooms, foyer and reception area of the Secretariat. • Comrade Norman McLean responsibilities are now centred around maintaining the grounds to include the entrance of the Party Secretariat and the back areas of the Political Education Building and Campaign Offices. Equipment Purchase: The Secretariat has secured and implemented several crucial upgrades and equipment acquisitions for our organization. These enhancements aim to improve the efficiency and functionality of our operations, specifically within the General Secretary’s Office and the Groups Department. a) We have procured a computer system along with a highquality colour printer for the General Secretary’s Office. The new computer is equipped with the latest specifications and software, and the colour printer will significantly enhance the printing capabilities, enabling the General Secretary’s Office to produce high-quality documents and reports. b) Printer for the Groups Department was also purchased. Recognising the importance of efficient printing facilities, we have also acquired a dedicated printer for the Groups Department. This printer is specifically tailored to meet department’s requirements and will enable the staff to quickly generate and print group-related materials and other necessary documents. c) To ensure uninterrupted and reliable communication within our organisation, we have successfully upgraded the internet and telephone lines at the Secretariat. The improved infrastructure will facilitate faster internet speeds, smoother online collaboration, and clearer voice communication, thereby boosting overall productivity and efficiency. Secretariat Needs: The Secretariat Office needs a facelift. We need to understand the significance of a conducive work environment and recognise the need for a refreshed Secretariat Office. As part of this effort, we are proposing painting the Secretariat to provide it with a well-needed facelift. The new paint will not only create a pleasant and inviting atmosphere but also contribute to the overall aesthetics and morale of our organisation. We anticipate that with this upgrade and the acquisitions, it will have a positive impact on the workflow and output of the Secretariat. Moreover, the proposed secretariat facelift will rejuvenate the workplace, enhancing the overall ambience and employee satisfaction. We will ensure that the painting project adheres to the organisation’s aesthetics and will provide a detailed plan for implementation, including timelines and costs, once approved. PARTY COMMISSIONS & COMMITTEES The following Commission Chairman have been approved by the Executive: ● Organizing - Cde Dayton Campbell ● International & Diaspora Affairs – Cde Dahlia WalkerHuntington and Cde Horace Dalley ● Internal Affairs – Cde Dr Fenton Ferguson ● Communications – Cde Racquel Nevins and Cde Dania Beckford ● Political Education and Training Commission - Cde Patricia Duncan Sutherland ● Gender - Cde Oshane Grant ● Welfare – Cde Richard Azan ● Policy and Vision – Cde Anthony Bogues ● Outreach and Recruitment – Cde Kamal Powell ● Structures Review Committee- Cde Paul Burke ● Disciplinary Committee- Cde Andrea Moore ● Universal Voting Right- Cde Donna Scott Motley ● Diaspora Membership- Cde Norman Minott LOCAL GOVERNMENT CAMPAIGN UPDATE The Party’s main priority is to keep the divisions that we currently have and target the divisions that performed well in 9
the General Elections. The national campaign team includes: ● Campaign Manager- Cde Dr Dayton Campbell ● Campaign Chair- Cde Dr Angela Brown Burke ● Campaign Director- Cde Maureen Webber ● Campaign Administrator- Cde Vijae Brown ● Communications- Cde Nekeisha Burchell ● Data Manager- Cde Nathan Curtis ● Data Assistant- Cde Anna-K Michaelia Cuffe ● Secretariat Administration- Cde Dexroy Martin, Cde Christine Bell and Cde Shameel Brown PARISH MANAGERS Parish Managers were tasked with the responsibility of overseeing the preparation of the respective parishes for the Local Government Elections and Targeted Constituencies in the respective parishes. The following comrades were assigned as follows: ● Cde Oneil Taylor- St. Ann ● Cde Phillip Service- Trelawny ● Cde Monique Oates- Portland ● Cde Phillip Paulwell- St. Thomas ● Cde Jennifer Edwards- St. Mary ● Cdes Julian Robinson & Angela Brown BurkeKingston & St Andrew ● Cde Norman Scott- St. Catherine ● Cde Fitz Jackson- Portmore ● Cde Thelma Johill- Clarendon ● Cde Peter Bunting- Manchester ● Cde Mikael Phillips- St. Elizabeth ● Cde Wensworth Skeffery - Westmoreland ● Cde Joan Gordon Webley- Hanover ● Cde Victor Wright- St. James PARISH MANAGEMENT TEAM Parishes were encouraged to build out their respective teams. Parish Management Team led by Parish Manager is to include: ● Data Manager ● Field Operations Manager ● Communications Coordinator ● Training/Capacity Development ● Funding Raising Coordinator REPORT ON COMMUNICATION ACTIVITIES Over the political year from September 2022 to the present, the People’s National Party’s Communications Unit successfully utilized traditional and digital media to disseminate party information, foster unity, and generate excitement among our supporters. By maintaining a consistent presence in both spheres, we were able to communicate our vision and engage with the public, paving the way for stronger partycitizen relationships and contributing to the advancement of our party’s goals. Messaging and Spokespersons Management: The PNP Communications Unit provided strategic message coordination, media management and crisis planning to support the Party Leader, spokespersons, General Secretary, and officers. Media briefings, press conferences, and digital media support ensured engagement with the media and the public, advancing the “Time Come” message of reorganization, enthusiasm and readiness. Press Releases and Statements: Throughout the political year, the PNP Communication Unit consistently issued wellcrafted press releases and official statements to disseminate party policies, updates, and responses to current events. These communications were designed to maintain a strong and consistent presence in traditional media outlets, ensuring that our party’s voice was heard and understood. Media Engagements and Interviews: We proactively engaged with traditional media houses, to take advantage of opportunities for interviews, off the record conversations and talk shows to articulate our party’s vision, positions, and proposals. These engagements allowed us to reach a broader audience and create meaningful connections with potential supporters. Utilizing Uniformed Branding for Content Creation and 10
11 Signaling an Active Party: The PNP Comms Unit used uniformed branding to create captivating graphics, videos, and memes that conveyed the Party’s message. This approach ensured visual consistency, attracted attention, signaled unity at events, and demonstrated an active and engaged party. The content strengthened the Party’s digital presence and amplified key messages effectively. Social Media Campaigns: Recognizing the importance of digital platforms, the PNP Communication Unit launched vibrant and engaging social media campaigns. We leveraged platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube to share party-related news, videos, graphics, and messages. These campaigns encourage active participation, dialogue, and sharing among our supporters, amplifying the reach of our communication efforts. Online Events and Livestreams: To foster unity and excitement among our supporters, we intended to organize more online events and live broadcasts in the upcoming months. Town hall meetings, policy discussions, and virtual rallies will also allow us to connect with our base in a more intimate and interactive manner, effectively building a sense of camaraderie and enthusiasm. We need your support: We need your support to advance the PNP message. Interact with our online content - like, share, and comment. Write letters to editors, call radio shows, and share ideas with the Communications Unit. Avoid spreading negative content about the PNP; always promote Team PNP. Bring to our attention any noteworthy matters requiring the intervention of the Communication Unit. Your vigilance ensures that our messaging remains effective and relevant. Help extend the reach of our content by creating WhatsApp groups to share PNP Communications updates with your family, friends, and community members. SECRETARIAT CONSTITUENCY AUDIT The Secretariat Constituency Audit has been going on successfully. The goal of the programme is to ensure the constituencies and divisions are election ready. The constituencies audited are: North West St. Catherine Central Westmoreland Eastern St. Andrew West Rural St. Andrew South St. James South East St Elizabeth South West St. Elizabeth ENUMERATION & ELECTORAL UPDATE The May 31, 2023, final list summary is as follows: Voters’ List Total: 2,017,921 Additions: 20,493 Deletions: 4,331 Transfers: 4,535 The current constituency average amounts to 32,030 electors ● Upper constituency limit (AVG*1.5) 48,046 electors ● Lower constituency limit (AVG * 2/3) 21,354 electors St. Andrew North Eastern breaches the Lower Constituency Limit with a total voter population of 21,300 The constituencies with the five (5) highest electors are: Westmoreland Central 46,578 Clarendon South Eastern 45,080 St. Ann North Eastern 43,223 St. Catherine South Western 42,328 St. Catherine Southern 42,125 The five lowest constituencies are: St. Andrew North Central 22,802 St. Elizabeth North Western 22,740 Kingston Central 22,489 St. Andrew South Eastern 22,147 St. Andrew North Eastern 21,300 PHASE 48 REGISTRATION SUMMARY REPORT Phase 48 of the electoral registration cycle encompasses the period April 1, 2023 – September 30, 2023. Below is a summarization of registrations which occurred thus far in 11
12 Phase 48, up to June 30, 2023: Internal/Continuous: Total Registered (8,815), Toal Verified (6,843) External: Total Registered (537), Total Verified (347) Transfers: Total Registered (4,205), Total Verified (1,139) EOJ CONSTITUENCY MONTHLY MEETINGS ATTENDANCE REPORT 31 of the 63 constituencies had perfect attendance for the period September 2022 to June 2023. Region 1: Trelawny Northern, St. Ann North Eastern Region 2: St. Mary South Eastern, St. Mary Central, St. Mary Western, Portland Eastern, Portland Western, St. Thomas Eastern Region 3: Kingston Western, Kingston Central, Kingston East and Port Royal, St. Andrew Western, St. Andrew Southern, St. Andrew West Rural, St. Andrew East Central, St. Andrew South Eastern, St. Andrew North Eastern, St. Andrew North Central Region 4: Clarendon Northern, Clarendon South Eastern, St. Catherine North Central, St. Catherine North Eastern, St. Catherine South Central, St. Catherine East Central Region 5: St. Elizabeth North Western, St. Elizabeth North Eastern Region 6: St. James Southern, St. James Central, St. James North Western, St. James East Central, Westmoreland Western PARTY GROUP At the end of the Political year there were 3,296 Party Groups. The Party will continue to encourage the formation of new groups to broaden participation and advance democracy, particularly in the unrecognized constituencies. Total number of groups is broken down as follows:
13 CONSTITUENCY REPORT
14
1515
17
18 NEXT STEPS The General Secretary intends to implement the following strategies to guide the Party into an election ready machinery: - Vibrant and active groups which are the foundation of the movement with a sharp focus on political education and capacity building - Increasing the human capacity by training the entire workforce of the Party - Organized constituencies following a strategic work program - Continuous canvassing of the voters list using modern technology - Targeted Enumeration Program - Political and social audits of constituencies - Strengthen internal communication mechanism - Onboarding all of the Targeted Constituency onto the Canvassing App - Upcoming Training Sessions for Party Workers Sincerely, Cde Dr. Dayton Campbell General Secretary
20 I t is with gratitude and humility that I thank the Comrades for their continued trust reposed in me in the role of Vice President of our noble movement. It was a pleasure to have served the People’s National Party for the 2022-2023 political year and I am especially grateful for the continued support and sterling leadership of our Party President, Comrade Mark Golding. The political year 2022-2023 existed amidst a period of unprecedented poor governance, record levels of crime and increasing poverty in Jamaica. The landscape has further strengthened my resolve to do all that I can to see the People’s National Party win both the local government and general elections, whenever called, and return the promise of realizing our full potential as a nation to every Jamaican. On an individual level, a large part of the political year was dedicated to activities in Westmoreland Western. Notwithstanding this, I was able to accomplish some important activities in my portfolio as Vice President with responsibility for Special Projects. Project activities achieved were; 1. Ongoing provision of care packages and aid in the face of increasing poverty. In a very real way the PNP was called upon to simply meet every day needs of Jamaicans in Region 6 and I answered the call. Across the divisions, I galvanized and supported activities for the back to school period 2022, Christmas 2022 and Easter 2023. 2. Promoting the presence and outreach of the Party by participating in the Road programme along with the Leader and several other Comrades. 3. Support for the strengthening of the Secretariat, ensuring funding needed for important initiatives carried out by the Party were made available. VICE PRESIDENT Ian Hayles SEPTEMBER 2022 – JULY 2023 REPORT FROM THE:
21 4. Recognizing the workers of the PNP in all the divisions of Western Westmoreland and whilst expressing gratitude engaging their thoughts towards strengthening our machinery in the constituency. Though my attendance at RMC, REC, Executive Committee and NEC meetings over the political year I was able to actively participate and where appropriate share the feedback of the many Comrades with whom I interacted in my role over the year. I am grateful to be serving again for a new term and I look forward to whatever special projects the Party President asks me to assume. Jamaica needs vision, Jamaica needs direction from a steady hand. Our people need hope. The victory of the People’s National Party in the upcoming elections is my focus. We can win and we must win. Cde. Ian Hayles Vice President Special Projects
VICE PRESIDENT Cde. Mikael Phillips A s we come to the end of another political year, I wish to thank the Party for allowing me the honour and privilege to serve as one of the Vice Presidents. It is a responsibility that I do not take lightly. Additionally, being the only P.N.P. Member of Parliament west of Clarendon and St. Ann, I undertook the role of being available, of being supportive, and of providing leadership when required in the parishes of St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Hanover, St. James, Portland, St Mary, and Trelawny as well as in my home parish of Manchester. Notwithstanding this, I also remained present in Region 2, where I have historically provided support. This assignment involved a gamut of activities, ranging from being physically present, meeting with candidates and giving candidate support, and constituency leadership, walking with candidates, and representing at funerals for fallen Comrades, supporting constituency and divisional conferences, and other activities as requested. I was fortunate to be able also to offer support virtually, whether it was providing advice via telephone or providing ‘cash and kind’ support where possible. The often postponed Local Government election remains a focus of our Party. I was asked by our Comrade Leader, Mark Jefferson Golding, to co-chair the local government campaign committee with Comrade Angela Brown Burke. This appointment took me across the length and breadth of the island with a team, doing assessments of candidates and providing advice and support to the many aspirants. Arising from these assessments, I was able to provide active mentoring to a host of aspirants across the country which spiralled into active involvement in support of some of their activities. Those two major assignments provided me as Vice President, with a good view of the state of the political organizations across the country. As such, I took the initiative to work with some of the politically ‘weaker’ constituencies in ensuring that their political SEPTEMBER 2022 – JULY 2023 REPORT FROM THE: 22
23 organization was up and functioning. With the call for candidates for the General Election, I have been able to provide support to the General Secretary in constituencies where he has requested my assistance. I continue my work as Shadow Spokesman for Transportation and Works; a portfolio responsibility that requires fairly frequent presentations in many areas of the public space, to civic groups, educational settings, and in the media. Finally, as the sole Member of Parliament in Manchester and in Region 5, I view it as my responsibility to take care of ‘yard’. As such, I remain an active member of the Region, always available to assist and support the work of the P.N.P. in the Region. I have been given the responsibility of parish manager for St. Elizabeth, getting our candidates prepared, both the local and national candidates. Again, I wish to give many thanks to you, my comrade brothers and sisters, for allowing me the opportunity to serve in the past year. I pledge and commit to you all, that I will continue to serve to the best of my abilities as we work diligently and focused, to ensure that our great Party, the Peoples National Party, under the leadership of Comrade Leader, Mark Jefferson Golding, becomes the next Government of Jamaica. One Love. Cde. Mikael Phillips Vice President 85th Happy Dean Peart Anniversary Former Member of Parliament for Manchester North Western wishes the PNP
VICE PRESIDENT DONNA SCOTT-MOTTLEY I t has been an honour to serve the People’s National Party as Vice President. I want to thank the Party Leader, the Chairman, Deputy Chairman, the General Secretary and the Deputy General Secretaries and my colleague Vice Presidents for their support. Comrades from the 6 regions have communicated their support for me and I place my appreciation on record. During my term I contributed to the expansion of the Party’s outreach and membership base with a special focus on meeting and communicating with women who expressed an interest in joining the Party. I actively participated in the development of Party policies and represented the Party at various conferences and meetings with a wide range of organizations. The Party Leader entrusted me with responsibility to liaise with the arms and affiliates of the Party, with the exception of the National Workers Union, to which the Chairman was assigned. This assignment gave me the opportunity to realize my stated objective of mentoring young people. One of the most fulfilling and fruitful tasks was my interaction with the female Councillors who are seeking to represent the Party when the next Local Government election is called. Their dedication and commitment are inspiring and with more support both organizationally and financially they will be successful. I participated in Region 3 activities with the People’s National Party Women’s Movement and congratulate Pat Morgan, Vice President, for organising a memorable and successful outreach event at the R Hotel in Kingston. This attracted several young professionals who were eager to make a contribution to the Party. I attended functions to honour and celebrate our comrades particularly those that were final farewells to comrades who have departed. My interaction with the PNP YO was mainly through the President, Senator Gabriela Morris. I was able to meet collectively and individually with promising young comrades, to assist with their personal growth and development. SEPTEMBER 2022 – JULY 2023 REPORT FROM THE: 24
25 This political year will see a structured formal agenda for mentoring and empowerment. The work as Chair of the Organizing Commission seeking to usher in the concept of ‘One Man, One Vote’ has been extremely challenging. Although it has been delayed, it will result in an advanced system using software to allow the secretariat to know all its members and to be in constant contact with them. Fostering a spirit of unity within the Party was and remains, a priority. Regular consultation with Party members and facilitating consensus building exchanges were meaningful and constructive. I cannot overemphasize the need to encourage a cohesive and inclusive atmosphere within the Party. The arduous work serving on the Constitutional Reform Committee continues. The Party has held steadfast in its position that Jamaica should embark on full decolonization by not only leaving the Monarchy but leaving the Privy Council and joining the Caribbean Court of Justice. I have addressed various groups on the subject, impressing upon them the significance of active engagement in the process of reform and supporting these positions of the Party. For the meeting with our PNP YO, I was joined by the Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs. My service as Vice President has been rewarding and filled with many valuable lessons. I am grateful for the trust and support of the Party members and the opportunity to contribute to the advancement of our Party’s goals. Moving forward, I am committed to continuing my dedication to the Party’s principles and aspirations. Yours in Comradeship Comrade Donna Scott-Mottley Vice President
VICE PRESIDENT Cde. Mayor Norman Scott I must first give thanks to God for seeing me through another political year; challenging as it was, we were able to reach many milestones, we kept the faith and I am more confident, now that victory is on the horizon. I must pause to place on record my heartfelt gratitude to you the members of this our noble Party for reposing your confidence in me has I served for yet another term as Vice President of the Movement. I am humbled and look forward to carrying out my mandate as your Vice President in the new political year. I extend gratitude to our Party President and the entire leadership core of the Party for allowing me the flexibility to tour the entire island, meeting with the people in the communities and their respective Councillors as we carry the PNP banner to every nook and cranny of Jamaica on the Party Leaders road tour. I was energized and very motivated as I travelled with the Party Leader Cde. Mark Golding whose style of leadership makes him able to connect to the comrades and Jamaicans at large as he gained their rust and respect. As President of the Caucus of PNP Councillors and with the Party Leader’s foresight, I was tasked with the responsibility of focusing primarily on the affairs of Councillors and the role we must play in winning the Local Government Elections. The Party’s Programme of Work was paramount and I was mandated to ensure that all parishes were adhering to the set tasks; this was an assignment I took seriously. The political year under review saw me meeting with all Caucuses along with the Caucus Leaders. In some instances it started out challenging but the team pulled through and we can see the gains in the polls, some of these gains I personally attribute to the hard working team of Councillors and Councillor Candidates. We implemented the “big brother system” in some parishes through which the weaker divisions were supported by our more experienced comrades. Cognizant of the overlong campaign towards a Local Government Election, as well as the fear for battle weariness expressed by the team I believed it was critical that encouragement as well as the technical support be given from the front. With this in mind myself, along with the Caucus Leadership and other senior comrades have made it a point of duty to engage the parish caucuses’ island wide SEPTEMBER 2022 – JULY 2023 REPORT FROM THE: 26
27 as we travelled to meet with them. Councillor’s welfare remains a high priority; with that said I have engaged our Spokesperson on Local Government, sharing the sentiments of the Councillors on the various issues affecting them. More recently we held a press conference where we were strident in responding to the postponement of the Local Government Elections citing the gross undermining of the democracy of our citizens. I commend the team and our Caucus Secretary for ensuring that we were able to host a successful Press Conference. I along with the team have organized demonstrations in a show of solidarity for the hardships being experienced by the people as well as issued press releases highlighting inconsistencies and anomalies impacting them. My tenure as Vice President and Caucus President of the Party has given me a new found respect for my fellow Councillors and Candidates who have remained committed to the Party as well as providing representation to the people of Jamaica. I was strident in my defence of the Peoples National Party and its membership; I was strident for the Councillors. The recent call for the payment of committed salaries to the Councillors was timely and caused the Minister of Finance to respond immediately to our call. My own commitment is resolute now more than ever as we work to retain the Municipalities we have as well as increasing our wining column. I remind my fellow councillors as I remind myself; the road to Jamaica House begins with the Municipalities. “TIME COME” Yours in comradeship and love Cde. Mayor Norman Scott Vice President
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN Senator Floyd Morris, PhD 1.1 CONSTITUTIONAL ASSIGNMENTS: NONE Deputize for Chairman in chairing Executive. 1.2 PARTY ASSIGNMENTS 1. Officer with responsibility for Direct Membership 1.3 OTHER PARTY ASSIGNMENT (a) Attend Party and official Government functions (b) Active participation on Annual Conference Planning Committee (c) Ongoing assessment of state of Direct Membership of the Party (d) Attended regional, constituency and divisional conferences 2.0 PLANNED WORK SCHEDULE Giving support to management team in St. Mary for Local Government Election. Actively supporting the Annual Conference Planning Committee. 3.0 REPORT ON ACTIVITIES In executing my assignment as officer responsible for Direct Membership, meetings were held with Comrade Phil Holmes who is responsible for managing the database with these Direct Members. A detailed analysis was done and we decided to update the list with the names and other demographical information. 4.0 ISSUES - OVERALL The various issues affecting the party organization at this time are as follows; 1. Need to have candidates / standard bearers for the Party at the constituency level. 2. Deeper engagement of the members of the Party in the marketing of the programmes and policies that the varied PNP administrations have implemented over the years. 3. Intensification of the marketing of the Comrade Leader. 4. Attention to be paid to the welfare of members of the noble movement SEPTEMBER 2022 – JULY 2023 REPORT FROM THE: 28
29 5. More positive use of social media for the promotion of the Party and its principles. 6. Continuing enumeration exercise in constituencies and preparation for elections, General and / or Parish Council. 7. Maintenance of Party Unity. 4.1 KEY RECOMMENDATIONS: The Party must maintain its presence in the public arena which can be achieved, in part, through the proper marketing of the programmes and policies that it has implemented in the past and some of what it intends to do upon regaining office. There should be a concentrated focus on the marketing of the Comrade Leader, with particular focus on his commitment to family, his astuteness, his impeccable integrity, his financial independence and his love for the people. Special attention must be placed on issues of literacy, housing, health and food for members of the PNP. Each Spokesperson for the Opposition should be required to develop at least five major programmes / policies /legislation that a future PNP administration will implement. There needs to be an urgent development of a database with all the names of members and supporters of the noble movement across the island. The database should also capture: address; date of birth; telephone numbers; employment status; gender and e-mail. 5.0 PROPOSED ACTIVITY FOR NEXT PERIOD My primary focus for the next period is to increase the number of Direct Members of the organization. I also intend to work with the General Secretary in developing the database of members and supporters of the organization. Additionally, I pledge to work with the Comrade Leader and the other officers in improving on the issue of unity among members of the noble movement. Once the PNP is united, we are unstoppable. The recent round of Divisional Conferences has shown signs of a revitalized PNP and we must capitalize on these gains. Senator Floyd Morris, PhD Deputy Chairman
The Legal Advisor Amb. G. Anthony Hylton, CD, MP 1. Introduction By virtue of being appointed (October 2022- Present) the legal officer for the Party, I serve also as a member of the officer group of the Party as provided for in the Constitution. In the capacity of legal advisor, I am tasked with responding to requests for opinions on a range of issues from interpreting the Party’s Constitution and By Laws, as well as national laws affecting the Party, its membership, arms and affiliates and committees of the Party. These requests are usually made to the legal advisor through the Party leader and /or the General Secretary for good order and accountability. 2. Activities During the course of the year, I attended all but one Executive Committee meeting, all NEC meetings and officers meetings held, and advised the meetings on legal issues arising either from resolutions made or opinion requested. In this period of choosing Provisional candidates for constituencies and divisions, several issues have arisen regarding these contests. I have provided several written opinions (approximately five (5) to date) on several of these issues. Additionally, I am currently reaching potential issue(s) which could arise concerning candidate(s) qualification for Parliamentary office in order to advise the Party. 3. Data Protection Considering that the Data Protection Act comes into effect in 2024, and the Party likely falls within the meaning of a “data controller”, because of its control of significant amounts of sensitive data concerning its membership, there is urgency in putting in place appropriate arrangements to ensure compliance with the Act. SEPTEMBER 2022 – JULY 2023 30 REPORT FROM THE:
31 To this end consultations will be had with appropriate professionals to implement systems to ensure the proper storage, protection and retrieval of data. Conclusion The opportunity to serve the Party in this new capacity was very fulfilling and rewarding personally and professionally. I am pleased to have this opportunity to serve in this capacity to assist in the interpretation and application of the Party’s Constitution and By- Rules. I am satisfied that the role for the Structures Committee is essential in not only reviewing and updating our laws, but also in considering and putting forward amendments which aids the Party to achieve its aims and objectives within the application of the rule of law, thereby maintaining the vibrancy of our rich democratic tradition. Amb. G. Anthony Hylton, CD, MP Legal Advisor, PNP
TREASURER CDE. kisha anderson • Salary/Stipend deductions and membership/ group dues represent between 30 and 40% of our annual income; balance must be raised. • Current annual income is does not allow for strengthening of the party’s infrastructure. Annual conference in September 2022 (FY2023) consumed just under 50% of annual income. Donations received in kind (hospitality, advertising, paraphernalia). Prior year when conference was online costs were reduced (about 7% of annual income). Expectation for September 2023 (FY 2024) annual conference to cost about the same as last year. SEPTEMBER 2022 – JULY 2023 32 REPORT FROM THE:
June 2022 financials still incomplete, will be posted on website once finished Financial Highlights of the last audited statements at June 30 2021 - The People’s National Party is an unincorporated entity and has no commercial means of earning. Revenues are generated by way of membership dues from loyal and committed delegates and members as well as donations from corporate entities and the general public with whom our mission resonates. 1 Audit completed by Curinam
34 1. The Parliamentary Group met regularly in joint meetings with the Party’s Executive Committee during the political year. These meetings had extensive discussions on a range of issues involving our conduct in the Parliament. In addition to those meetings, the Group also engaged in several caucuses during the year. 2. It should be noted that the Budget Debate took place with the participation of the Opposition Spokesman on Finance on March 9 and the Leader of the Opposition on March 14. 3. The Sectoral Debate was also done with all members of the Shadow Cabinet Participating. 4. Several Private Members Motions were tabled none of which were debated while several Questions were answered, albeit very late. 5. Discussions took place in relation to three matters before a joint select committee namely, the Bail Bill, the Education Bill, and the review of the Electricity Act. Extensive discussion took place on the Bail Bill with various amendments proposed by the Opposition. These amendments were accepted by the Government. 6. There were several controversial rulings by the Speaker which resulted in stern responses from the Opposition. These include the issue of the tabling of the reports from the Auditor General and the Integrity Commission. We have had to write formally to the Speaker to express our views on these matters. 7. We had extensive discussion on the recent salary increases to Parliamentarians. 8. The Group also spent time reviewing the Firearms Act and the recently enacted Road Traffic Act 9. The Opposition continues to exert it strong position that States of Public Emergency are unconstitutional and have denied Government’s attempts to extend them. 10. We have continued to support the Zones of Special Operations Act. Phillip Paulwell Leader of Opposition Business in the Houses of Parliament Parliamentary Group SEPTEMBER 2022 – JULY 2023 REPORT FROM THE:
REGIONS REPORTS FROM THE
Executive Summary 1 The main objectives for the 2022 to 2023 political year were: To ensure regional readiness for local government elections The continued strengthen constituency political structures To facilitate political education training Parish managers are in place for both parishes. Comrade Philip Service will continue to oversee Trelawny and Comrade Oneil Taylor is now overseeing the parish of St. Ann replacing Comrade Jennifer Edwards. Both parish managers have bi-monthly meetings with their respective candidates where they offer guidance with varying degrees of success. The Region is also actively engaged in the process of fielding General Election Candidates. The Appraisal Committee interviewed a number of aspirants for the various Constituencies. With the exception of St. Ann Southwestern, all other Constituencies either have a standard bearer in place or are waiting for the Aspirant to be placed. Regional Retreats The Region hosted two regional retreats with the officers of the region. At the regional retreats, regional officers and other regional leaders evaluated the state of the Region and made plans/corrective measures to strengthen the regional structures. The plans included visiting all constituencies by the Regional Officers as well as continuous review of all CouncillorCcandidates. Meetings There were four regular meetings of the regional executive council (REC) during this period. There were seven RMC meetings held in the political year. Regional Officers On Sunday, October 23, 2022 there was an election of officers to the region. • Vice Chairman Cde. Phillip Service • Vice Chairman Cde. Oneil Taylor • Vice Chairman Cde. Lloyd Garrick • Vice Chairman Cde. Ryan Simpson • Secretary Cde. Sanaya Brown • Treasurer Cde. Andrew Mullings • Legal advisor Cde Shelley Ann Hyman REGIONONE SEPTEMBER 2022 – JULY 2023 REPORT TO THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL 36
37 Organization Overview The Regional Management Committee continues to meet regularly and has satisfied our constitutional responsibilities. Four meetings of the REC were held as scheduled in August, November, February and May. The overall turnout at both REC and RMC meetings has been fair. .
38 REPORTS Verbal reports are given as to the state of the constituency organizations at the monthly RMC. South Trelawny – The Constituency Committee continues to meet regularly with The Electoral Committee is constituted and has met. The constituency is a Recognized Constituency. Cde. Dr. Pauline Foster is Chair of the Constituency and Cde. Pauline Brown is the Secretary. The regional officers visited 1 executive meeting in the constituency for the political year. North Trelawny – The Constituency committee continues to meet on a regular basis and the Electoral Committee is constituted. Cde. Rev. Owen Watson resigned as Chairman mid-year. The regional officers visited 1 executive meeting in the constituency for the political year. The Constituency is recognized. South West St. Ann –The Constituency Committee continues to meet on a regular basis and is functioning. Cde. Philip Service is the chairman for the constituency. Cde. Nordia Thompson resigned as Constituency Secretary in May 2023. The constituency had its first constituency awards dinner which was a success. The Electoral Committee has met. Constituency is unrecognized. The regional officers visited 1 executive meeting in the constituency for the political year. North West St. Ann –The Constituency Committee continues to meet on a regular basis and is functioning with Cde Esther Wauchope as Chairman and Cde. Oneil Taylor as Constituency Secretary. The Electoral Committee is meeting. The constituency held a fundraising dinner where Comrade. The constituency had several fundraising events which included the annual constituency awards dinner. The constituency is a Recognized Constituency.The regional officers visited 1 executive meeting in the constituency for the political year. North East St. Ann – The Constituency Committee is now chaired by Cde Ryan Simpson with Cde. Sherenette Lawrenve as secretary. The constituency is a recognized Constituency.The regional officers visited 1 executive meeting in the constituency for the political year. South East St. Ann – The Constituency Committee does not appear to be meeting. Cde. Lisa Hanna is Chairman and Cde. Ezekiel Russell is the Constituency Secretary. The Region has been in dialogue with the Constituency. The constituency is a Recognized Constituency.
39
40 Conferences The divisions in the region supported each other at the divisional conference with 3 or more regional officers being in attendance at most conferences. None of the divisions in South East St. Ann did not have their divisional conferences and 1 division from South Trelawny also failed to have its divisional conference. They have been given permission by the RMC to hold these outstanding conferences during the week of July 24th through the 28th. Groups Regional meetings have seen extensive discussions in relation to groups and activities. For the upcoming political year, the region will be monitoring existing groups in an effort to maintain the Party’s tradition of organizing from the ground up and giving all persons an opportunity to participate in the political process. Arms and Affiliates The Women’s Movement continues to maintain an active presence in some constituencies of the Region. Cde. Shaneen Roberts was recently elected Vice President with responsibility forRegion 1 The PNP YO however continues to struggle in the region. PNP YO elected Cde. Sherelle Shaw Regional Chairman and Comrade Britanya Nickle Regional Secretary.
41 Outreach Activities There were no structured outreach and recruitment programs implemented by the region. Political Education There were limited political educational activities in the region this political year. Training is desperately needed. Fundraising Raising funds for the Region remains a challenge. No regional fundraising activities were held. Parish Councillors Both Parishes continue to caucus sporadically but there needs to be great effort put forward in this regard. Signed, Dr. Pauline Foster (Chairman) Signed, Sanaya Brown (Secretary)
Overview Region II experienced a year of significant progress as the constituency executives worked together in earnest to meet the needs of the party and the constituents. We improved in a number of areas such as Conflict resolutions, settling candidate appointments as well as maintaining camaraderie among the members. We are aware of challenges such as stable attendance, which we are committed to rectifying. The year started out on a high pulse by efforts from our late Region Chairman, Cde. Cllr. Lincoln Dixon. We pride ourselves in ensuring that all candidates were in place and fulfilling their tasks within their respective areas. Every constituency was closely monitored by the Region Executive to ensure compliance. The Region is committed to closely assessing its growth in membership, closely monitoring enumeration and also, taking time to learn about our problems and challenges and to find out about risks and other factors that may affect our performance and, inherently, succeeding at the polls. Midway through the political year the region was rocked by the sudden passing of our chairman Cde Cllr Lincoln Dixon. Nevertheless, the regional team under the Stewardship of our Acting Chairman kept the regional political machinery functional. For this, let us recognize the solid foundation built by Cde. Dr. Morais Guy MP and continued by Cde Dixon. During the second half of the political year our focus shifted from the divisional candidates to the constituency candidates. The first call for candidates saw all seven constituencies having aspirants with two constituencies having more than one. At the time of this report, candidates have been named in two constituencies with another being expected to be named in short order following the recently concluded selection conference. We look forward to the settling of the other constituencies with a view to having candidates as opposed to aspirants doing their political work. Attendance at meetings continues to be a problem throughout the region. Having recognized this, we have implemented measures which we anticipate will bear fruit in the new political year. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the executive who worked relentlessly throughout 22/23 for being committed to the day-to-day operations of the Region. We look forward to the coming year with optimism and enthusiasm as we put significant plans in place to make our Region more connected, responsive, and committed to an improved People’s National Party. REGION SEPTEMBER 2022 – JULY 2023 two REPORT TO THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL 2 42
43
44
45
46
47