TWICE disappointed, People’s National Party (PNP) vice-president Dr Karl Blythe has thrown in the towel, saying he will not seek re-election at the next polls. Blythe left the announcement up to PNP general secretary Colin Campbell, who said in a statement yesterday that the Central Westmoreland member of parliament had advised party chairman Robert Pickersgill of his decision to go.

But Blythe appeared to have opted against forcing the party into another by-election, by agreeing to hold on until the next general elections, widely expected before October this year but constitutionally due next year.

Campbell’s statement did not offer a suggestion as to why Blythe has decided to step, saying only that the former water and housing minister had told Pickersgill in his letter Monday that “he had come to a decision after months of consultation and reflection”.

He had also advised the constituency secretary of his intention to relinquish his position as PNP chairman of the Central Westmoreland constituency and indicated that he would be giving up his position as a PNP vice-president at the next party annual conference, usually held in September.

However, Blythe’s decision was expected after February’s fractious election to select P J Patterson’s successor, Portia Simpson Miller who prevailed against him, Dr Peter Phillips and Dr Omar Davies, and subsequently became party leader and prime minister.

Undaunted by the fact that he had placed last in the race, Blythe made it clear he expected to be in Simpson Miller’s Cabinet.

“I just know that anybody in the party who is really serious about the government and my performance should find it very difficult to leave a man like me out of a Cabinet,” he said shortly after Simpson Miller was elected.

Sources said Blythe was crushed when he was left out of the Cabinet, especially after claims that he had dumped votes to help her secure the prized position.

But last night, Campbell rejected any notion that Blythe’s move had anything to do with the leadership election.

“I couldn’t agree with that suggestion. There is no basis for saying that,” Campbell told the Observer last night.

Campbell, who is also information and development minister and who speaks for Simpson Miller, conceded that Blythe had wanted to be included in the Cabinet, but insisted that “that is the sole discretion of the prime minister”.

He said he could not say why Blythe was exempted from the Cabinet, but he confirmed that Blythe and Simpson Miller met last week to discuss the matter, after which he conveyed his decision to the party.

Blythe, who has constantly coloured his political rhetoric with religious images, quite similar to Simpson Miller’s suggestion of being an elect of God, had apparently made his decision several weeks ago after consultations with constituents and his “Heavenly Father”.

“I have met with my constituents and my Heavenly Father and I have come up with my decision. But I have not yet advised the president of the party (Simpson Miller) so I will now await the discussion with her and then you will all hear,” he told the Observer on May 3. The discussion appears to have left him unimpressed.

It will be the second time that Blythe is taking leave of positions in the PNP, following his departure as parliamentary secretary in the health ministry in a previous Patterson administration.

Then in April 2002, a government-commissioned probe of the National Housing Development Corporation (NHDC), which fell under his Ministry of Water and Housing, pointed to ministerial interference, cronyism and poor management of its Operation Pride shelter programme under his watch, causing him to resign.

However, an examination of the report conducted by former solicitor-general, Kenneth Rattray, accused the enquirers of failing to do an in-depth examination of the facts before arriving at their conclusions, and cleared him of wrongdoing.

Blythe’s resignation now leaves two vice-presidential positions open for election at the September conference. But, so far, there has been no indication of who the contenders will be.

The two remaining vice-presidents are Dr Peter Phillips, the national security minister and Dr Paul Robertson who supported him.

Meantime, there was mixed reaction to Blythe’s planned departure from PNP supporters in his Central Westmoreland constituency.

One party stalwart who spoke to the Observer last night on condition of anonymity declared that she would also quit the PNP.

“I am just out right now. I am thinking of going to my church. I don’t think I will support the party anymore… We don’t want anyone to come and ruin the party.”

Michael Smith, another constituent said he was prepared for the imminent departure of Dr Blythe and would continue to support the party. “It doesn’t come as a surprise to me because I was just looking for anything. I am the type of person who holds a position in the party and I decide to work just the same. I am just the person who just have to pick up and move on,” said Smith.

Andrea Henry, one of Blythe’s aides, noted that the MP would be missed from the political circle but took solace in the fact that he still resides in the constituency.

“Well, Dr Blythe will always be in Central Westmoreland. His businesses are here, his house is here, so he is at home in the community. He will be missed in the political arena. Someone of that calibre who has made such sterling contribution to so many persons must be missed. Maybe the time is right for him to step aside from politics,” she added.

Myrtle Marzouca, another constituent said she had to accept Dr Blythe’s decision.

“I really don’t know what to say. I will have to accept it and we will all have to accept it. We spoke to him and he told us he would not resign but if he has now made up his mind, we have to just accept it.”

With additional reporting by

Horace Hines in Montego Bay