NORMAN GRINDLEY/DEPUTY CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER, Prime Minister and president of the People’s National Party, Portia Simpson Miller, is surrounded by party supporters and security personnel as she makes her way to the nomination centre in her South West St. Andrew constituency, yesterday
Published in the Jamaica Gleaner: Wednesday | August 8, 2007
Daraine Luton, Staff Reporter
For the many Jamaicans who have seen Portia Simpson Miller in recent days with an abeng, and have questioned whether she knows how to use it, the Prime Minister has said she will sound it on election night at the People's National Party (PNP) headquarters.
"It was given to me by the Maroons of Accompong and I will sound it, the victory sound, at Old Hope Road on the 27th," Mrs. Simpson Miller said moments after being nominated to represent the South West St. Andrew constituency.
Mrs. Simpson Miller is being challenged by the JLP's Garnet Reid for the seat.
Mr. Reid suffered the humiliation of an extended stay at the nomination centre at the Greenwich All-Age school because it took him nearly one hour to get 10 JLP supporters to sign his nomination form. Persons he had brought along with him were not on the voters' list.
Smooth nomination
There were no such problems for Mrs. Simpson Miller whose nomination went smoothly.
She has won South West St. Andrew in every election in which the PNP has participated since 1976 and said she has "never paid serious attention" to her opponents there.
It is almost a foregone conclusion that Mrs. Simpson Miller will win the seat but recent opinion polls have suggested the PNP has a big fight on its hands if it is to be returned to power.
While refusing to comment on recent polls, Mrs. Simpson Miller said her party will win the election.
Mrs. Simpson Miller has admitted that she has been experiencing sleepless nights over the election.
This Saturday, Mrs. Simpson Miller faces off with Opposition Leader Bruce Golding in a national debate.
Asked about her readiness for the debate, Mrs. Simpson Miller responded: "I am ready for any debate at any time."
