The decision by Dr Peter Phillips to challenge Mrs Portia Simpson Miller for the presidency of the People's National Party (PNP) should be seen for what it really is - a strong resolve to preserve a principle that is central to the efficient functioning of a democracy, ie that leadership should not be immune to question, as well as the fact that the PNP is in urgent need of renewal.

In fact, the reaffirmation of the PNP's leadership, within a context of questions being raised about the direction of the party, was very well articulated by Opposition parliamentarian Mr Fitz Jackson in an interview published in this week's Sunday Observer.

Mr Jackson, a senior member of the PNP, holds firmly to the principle that reaffirmation of the party's leadership positions must be maintained.

"It goes to the heart of the provision of the constitution of the party," Mr Jackson was quoted as saying. "I am one of those who believe that one of the cornerstone objectives of that provision that should not be tampered with in any way. is to ensure that the leadership has the ongoing, unquestioned support of the delegates."

Mr Jackson went further to state that no one should seek to personalise their positions in the party, because all positions belong to the party. "So the positions that are up for annual renewal, by virtue of the constitution, must be decided by ballots," he said.

We couldn't agree with him more. For we have seen the danger of leaders who, having tasted power, eventually become intoxicated and do everything they can to crush any attempt at a challenge.

That scenario is being played out in Zimbabwe now to the utter disgust of the world, except, of course, Russia and China - who last week vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution to impose sanctions on President Robert Mugabe and members of his inner circle - and South Africa, which has basically allowed Zimbabwe to collapse by adopting what President Thabo Mbeki described as "soft diplomacy" to deal with Mr Mugabe's tyranny.

We are not here saying that the PNP has descended to the level of Zimbabwe, as the party has continued to display a respect for democracy in keeping with the principles upon which it was founded 70 years ago.

However, we cannot mask our concern at the utterings of some members of the PNP who are obviously supportive of Mrs Simpson Miller and the officers in the party who are close to her.

Words such as "disloyal" are being used to describe people in the PNP who even entertain the thought of a challenge to the president. It is not a scenario that is welcomed by politicians, particularly those who, after being at the helm of their party for many years, begin to see themselves as the party.

That, of course, is not healthy for any democratic movement - something that the Jamaica Labour Party learnt the hard way.

The naked truth that has been facing the PNP since the 2006 presidential election is that it is badly splintered, a fact that assisted in the party losing the last general elections and which was acknowledged by the Brian Meeks-led team appointed by the party to appraise its performance in the election.

The Meeks Report quite rightly pointed out that, based on the divisions in the PNP, it was in need of healing, reinvention and renewal.

While Mrs Simpson Miller and her ardent supporters may not like to hear it, the fact is that her leadership in the immediate aftermath of the 2006 presidential election failed to heal the wounds of that contest. And those wounds, to this day, remain raw.

The party, therefore, needs to settle the issue of leadership if it is to offer the country any semblance of a strong, credible Opposition capable of forming the Government whenever the Jamaican people are again called on to exercise their right to choose.

Executive Class

Gardens with Gravel

Death to the Mullet!