PETER Phillips went to St Thomas last night to promote his candidacy for the leadership of the PNP and took 10 MPs and raft other party big-wigs with him. But his most stirring endorsement came from a man who knows what it is to hold the “lonely job” that Phillips now has in P J Patterson’s Cabinet.

“Someone asked me this evening why I did not wear my hat.” K D Knight, who Phillips succeeded as national security minister, quipped at a Phillips campaign rally at Lyssons Primary School. “I did not because there is one general in the yard and one sheriff in the place (Peter Phillips).”

Knight, who is now the foreign minister, is known for his trademark felt hats on social occasions, which he sometimes accessories with a hefty cigar.

Quips apart, Knight was serious about his backing for Phillips, who despite his strength among the hierarchy of the People’s National Party (PNP), has faced public criticism over Jamaica’s crime problem, with murders already at a record high of more than 1,400. Phillips has been in the job for four years.

“As one who held the security portfolio for 12 years, eight months, 16 days and 10 minutes, I know that it is a difficult job. It can be a lonely job and (one in which) you sometimes don’t get credit.,” said Knight.

Phillips, among four candidates vying for the presidency of the ruling PNP – and ultimately the head of government – when Prime Minister P J Patterson steps down by early next year, has come under attack for Jamaica’s high murder rate.

However, Knight, gave him his full backing for the job he has been doing as security minister.

“. I am here tonight comrades to give Peter David Phillips a national and international endorsement as the next president of the PNP and prime minister of Jamaica,” said Knight.

“I am not jumping on any bandwagon because the Peter Phillips wagon is now rolling,” said Knight, to cheers from party supporters.

Knight praised the work of Phillips in the ministries of construction and works, transport, and health and said that he is capable of taking on several issues.

“The constitution says that to be prime minister of Jamaica you have the support of the majority of MPs, and when I look around I see a number of MPs on the platform,” said Knight.

The Phillips camp says it has the support of 16 MPs.

Knight also hailed Phillips for his conduct in Cabinet, saying he has been able to take on several issues placed on the table. “Based on how he has been able to conduct himself in Cabinet, I support him as the next chairman of the Cabinet.”

Phillips also won praises from Knight for the respect he has won from grassroots supporters, as well as his understanding of regional and international issues, which he said were crucial for a party president and prime minister.

“.I asked Peter Phillips recently if he loves poor people, and he not only said yes, but that he wanted to get rid of poverty, and I believe him,” said Knight. Phillips, he added, is a man that stands out and should be the next leader of the party.

Phillips is up against Portia Simpson Miller, the popular local government minister; Omar Davies, finance minister; and former Cabinet minister Karl Blythe for the party leadership.

Last night, the security minister expressed his appreciation for the support from his host, Dr Fenton Ferguson, who he said took a Jamaica Labour Party constituency and made it ‘solid as a rock’ for the PNP.

Ferguson, in an earlier address, said he supported Simpson Miller in the 1992 PNP presidential campaign, but is now behind Phillips.

“We supported Simpson in 1992. Then we followed our heart and not our head. This time we are solidly behind Peter,” Ferguson said.

But it was with the endorsement from Knight that Phillips showed a little emotion.

“Comrades, I also want to say with every word I can muster to K D Knight for his kind words and endorsement here this evening.

“. I want to say to him this evening that I am personally grateful for his endorsement,” said Phillips to loud applause. Knight, he said, was a person who usually tells it like it is, and that his support was welcome.

In the meantime, Phillips told his eastern Jamaica supporters that there was much more that needed to be accomplished in the continued task of nation building.

He said there were too many idle hands and too much idle land that could be put to work in helping to ease unemployment.

“Sugar and banana are in trouble, we will have to make adjustments and pioneer new industries as well.” He added that idle land would have to be transformed in the mission of abolishing poverty and hardship.

Meanwhile, Phillips appealed for unity in the party. “I offer myself as candidate for leadership, I seek your support, but the mission is not a one-man mission. The days of saying ‘go before us and do thy work thyself’ are done. We want united PNP, then there is no force that can stop us.

“The mission is to build a new Jamaica and continue the work done by Norman Manley, Michael Manley and P J Patterson, where everybody gets a chance to ‘step up ina life’, where people live in harmony and students get the best out of the education system,” said Phillips.

Patterson, who turns 71 next year, announced at the PNP’s annual conference in September that he would be stepping down as president of the party and prime minister before the next budget in April.

MPs at Phillips’ St Thomas rally

. Charles Learmond South West Clarendon

. Fitz Jackson South St Catherine

. Wykeham McNeill Western Westmoreland

. John Junor Central Manchester

. Morais Guy Central St Mary

. Patrick Harris North Trelawny

. Donald Rhodd Eastern Portland

. Maxine Henry-Wilson South East St Andrew

. K D Knight East Central St Catherine

. Fenton Ferguson East St Thomas

Also present were:

. Rosemarie Shaw – caretaker for Western St Thomas

. O D Ramtallie & Horace Clarke, former Cabinet ministers.