KINGSTON, Jamaica – Dr Peter Phillips has declared that he intends to offer himself as a candidate for the post of president of the People’s National Party (PNP), whenever the current party president, Portia Simpson Miller, steps down.

He made the declaration as he spoke during the public session of his East Central St Andrew constituency conference at Jasicera Park near Half-Way-Tree in St Andrew on Sunday night.

Phillips said that for whatever time he has remaining in public life, with the support of the delegates of the PNP, he intended to commit to the restoration of the values of the party and to its protection.

“Whenever the party leader decides and the party decides and there is a transition to take place, I intend by the grace of God to offer myself,” Dr Phillips declared.

The former minister of finance and planning pointed out that, with no disrespect to anyone and none to the party leader, a time will come when a transition will take place.

He said he believes in orderly transition and that is why his name was not on any ballot this September.

“There was never any intention for my name to be on any ballot this September because I believe in the protection of the party,” he said.

He added that Jamaica needs a strong PNP to advance and keep alive the legitimate dreams of the Jamaican people and to ensure that all children, no matter where they live or which school they attend, receive the same high quality education which they all deserve.

The party was needed too, he pointed out, to complete the economic reforms and to advance the transformation of the police force to be able to better combat crime and keep the people of Jamaica safe.

Meanwhile, Dr Phillips called for an end to the disrespect being shown by some people to Simpson Miller, who also spoke at the conference.