OPPOSITION PEOPLE'S NATIONAL PARTY REGROUPING

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINGSTON 000884 SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/CAR - ANDRE CADIEUX, VELIA DE PIRRO INR/IAA - BOB CARHART WHA/EPSC - MATT ROONEY INL/LP -AIMEE MARTIN INL/G-TIP - BARBARA FLECK TREASURY FOR ERIN NEPHEW E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR SOCI SNAR ASEC ECON EFIN KCRM KCOR, IBRD, IABD, JM, XL SUBJECT: OPPOSITION PEOPLE'S NATIONAL PARTY REGROUPING AFTER CONTENTIOUS LEADERSHIP BATTLE REF: A. KINGSTON 837 ¶B. KINGSTON 766 ¶C. KINGSTON 176 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission James T. Heg for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The opposition People's National Party (PNP) is reorganizing and healing rifts in the aftermath of a hotly contested leadership election. Former Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller (PSM),the incumbent party president, retained her seat in the September 20 contest, beating her challenger, former Minister of National Security Peter Phillips, by a decisive margin (ref B). In the days following the party election, Phillips resigned from his internal party roles and PSM named a new "council of spokespersons" consisting of a mix of young technocrats and experienced campaigners. Two Phillips loyalists will take positions in PSM's new team. According to PSM supporter Senator Basil Waite, the newly appointed group will act as a shadow cabinet, eliciting feedback from stakeholders and forging policies. The PNP seems well on the path to bridging the divide between its factions and is now seriously accepting its responsibility in the constitutionally mandated role of opposition party. End summary. PNP Shadow Cabinet: Something Old, Something New... -------------- -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Following the September 20 opposition People's National Party (PNP) leadership election that left former Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller (PSM) at the helm (ref B),the party is regrouping with a new shadow cabinet. On September 30, PSM appointed a "council of spokespersons" composed of young technocrats and more experienced party hands, each tasked with an issue portfolio. Seven of the 14-member council served as Ministers under the PNP government, while the rest are being appointed for the first time. Party stalwart Omar Davies will cover finance and planning, and party chair Robert Pickersgill will take on infrastructure and housing. Former Minister of Industry, Commerce, Science, and Technology Phillip Paulwell, despite being indicted on corruption charges in the Cuban light bulb distribution scandal (ref C),remains as spokesperson for energy and telecommunications. ¶3. (U) According to media reports, PSM,s challenger in the party presidential contest, Peter Phillips, resigned from all posts within the party on September 23. He remains an opposition parliamentarian, but has no other formal role within the PNP. Peter Bunting, the party's general secretary, is taking on Phillips's former party portfolio of national security, while Derrick Kellier will replace Phillips as the Leader of Opposition Business in the House. Kellier will also carry the portfolio of labor and security for the PNP. Natalie Neita-Headley, a newcomer to PSM's group with a human resources and industrial relations background, will cover public services and act as Deputy Leader of Opposition Business in the House. Healing Rifts, Taking on Party Responsibilities -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) Senator Basil Waite, appointed to the council to cover education, told poloff October 6 that each shadow cabinet minister will have a task force and hold meetings with relevant stakeholders. He said the newly appointed PNP spokespersons will move beyond issuing press releases and meet with service organizations like Rotary clubs, businesses and chambers of commerce, and community organizations. Waite plans to meet with teachers, associations and school principals. He said such an &iterative8 process will help the PNP shape &new policies for new elections.8 Waite envisions the council as a shadow cabinet, and while he couldn't predict when the next parliamentary elections will be, he wants the PNP to be &ready for any eventuality.8 ¶5. (C) Waite, who had campaigned for PSM, speculated to poloff that only ten percent of the Phillips supporters still remain resentful about PSM,s victory. He said PSM,s group will reach out to high profile members of the Phillips team and ask them to bring the rank and file along. Waite expected meetings between the two factions to continue no longer than a month, and predicted the party would unify and rally around a proposed &progressive agenda8 within that time frame. Waite added that the shadow cabinet includes two strong Phillips supporters, included Fenton Ferguson, who was elected as one of four party vice presidents. Wykeham McNeil, another member of the Phillips team, has the portfolio for tourism and entertainment. There would have been more Phillips supporters appointed as spokespersons, Waite said, but some declined because they &prefer to take a back seat at this time.8 Waite characterized that as the result of embarrassment that their candidate lost rather than any refusal to work with PSM. ¶6. (C) Parliamentarian Sharon Hay-Webster, who had supported Phillips in the leadership contest, told poloff in an October 8 conversation that the meetings between the two factions are proceeding well with &no acrimony.8 Hay-Webster commented, &There is still some settling down to do, but most are committed to the party.8 She assessed that the all-party meeting scheduled for Sunday, October 12, would allow the two sides to engage constructively and jointly chart the course for the party's future. She said the party's role in opposition would allow the newly appointed shadow cabinet a &dry run.8 Hay-Webster said there was &room for mistakes, especially because first time Members of Parliament are just finding their feet.8 ¶7. (C) Defeated challenger and former Minister of National Security Peter Phillips, in a conversation with DCM September 30 just before the new shadow cabinet was announced, was philosophical about his defeat and did not seem resentful. Phillips said that he had told PSM that he did not want a position in the new shadow cabinet, preferring the relative freedom of the backbench to adopt, and speak out on, issues of his own choosing. Phillips indicated that he plans a period of reflection recharging of his batteries. National Security Ministry Permanent Secretary Gil Scott, who worked for Phillips when he was Minister, speculated to DCM on October 3 that Phillips may end up in a regional position, perhaps with CARICOM, dealing with security issues. Comment and Analysis -------------- ¶8. (C) While PSM was unable to make a completely fresh start in her shadow cabinet, it bodes well that fully half of the new Council consists of capable technocrats. This is somewhat of a break from her former pattern of simply surrounding herself with loyalists, though she still did not manage to cut Paulwell out. The composition of the Council underscores Waite's earlier assertion that PSM will look to a new, more qualified circle of advisors (ref B). The appointments of Ferguson and McNeil will alsOQIL$%Qbehind the infighting and focus on oversight and preparations to govern again should elections be in the offing. While the experienced Hay-Webster seems less than enthusiastic about the new crop of young appointees, she, like many of her colleagues, will continue to engage actively and constructively as the PNP regroups and finds its way forward. Johnson