MONTEGO BAY, St James – People’s National Party (PNP) presidential candidate, Portia Simpson Miller declared yesterday that no bribery could derail her bid to become the next party president and prime minister of Jamaica, and she again drew comfort from the recent election of three women as heads of government overseas.

Speaking to the Sunday Observer a day after pulling confidence-boosting crowds in Falmouth, which is part of the North Trelawny constituency in Region Six, Simpson Miller said that as she moved across Jamaica to consolidate support of the PNP delegates who would elect the new party leader, she had come to a firm conclusion.

“…The delegates are resolute that no amount of money, no amount of prompting, no amount of bribing will change their decision because they are going to be a part of this change and they are going to be writing this history in Jamaica.”

She did not make any direct reference to reports circulating wildly that candidates in the presidential race were offering money to delegates in exchange for their votes.

The other candidates in the race are: Dr Peter Phillips, the national security minister; Dr Omar Davies, the finance minister; and Dr Karl Blythe, the former water and housing minister.

Simpson Miller, the minister of local government, community development and sport, also saw destiny in the recent elections of women to run their countries, saying that this “wind of change” had now changed its direction and was headed for Jamaica.

“…When I got to Montego Bay last night (Friday) I felt the wind of change. It blew from Liberia to Germany, to Chile, some of it went into Peru, and a force came right here into Jamaica and I know, not long from now, it will settle with the woman at the helm of a great political movement – at the helm of the country.”

On the eve of the announcement by PNP president and prime minister, PJ Patterson of the date when delegates of the party will choose his successor, Simpson Miller made a strong showing of support when she took her campaign to Region 6 for a special meeting with delegates.

Team Portia first met with nearly 90 per cent of the over 60 delegates Friday and later in the afternoon addressed the delegates and hundreds of party supporters who jam-packed Water Square in Falmouth, the Trelawny capital.

Obviously bouyed by the crowd support at the meeting in Falmouth, Simpson Miller said: “Last night in Falmouth the crowd was unbelievable – and it was not a general election campaign, and to have had the level support and that type of crowd turning out in Falmouth last night was encouraging,” she told the Sunday Observer.

Yesterday, the only woman in the race for party president, met in Montego Bay with about 340 delegates and scores of party supporters, in an emotionally charged atmosphere.

During that meeting, Clive Dobson, president of National Workers Union (NWU), declared that over 90 per cent of the 64 delegates in his union were in support of Simpson Miller.

Newspaper publisher and columnist, Lloyd B Smith in a stirring and passionate address to the gathering, also threw his full support behind Simpson Miller.

Patterson will announce today the date of his departure from office.

hinesh@jamaicaobserver.com