PRIME Minister Portia Simpson Miller has again put her People’s National Party (PNP) on election alert and has told her comrades to get ready, as she addressed senior party members and workers at Thursday night’s opening of Maxine Henry-Wilson’s St Andrew South Eastern constituency office.

“We are not there yet, but we are getting in shape, we are showing our faces,” said Simpson Miller, the president of the PNP.

It was widely expected that election would have been held before the end of 2006, but the Trafigura party funding scandal that rocked the ruling party apparently pushed back those plans for general elections, officially due by the end of this year.

The prime minister also took a jab at the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party, which has been calling for early general elections.

“I hear people predicting elections. Yuh better don’t want it to come.,” said Simspon Miller to loud applause from PNP supporters gathered at the constituency office located at the corner of Lady Musgrave Road and Hopefield Avenue. “The People’s National Party (PNP) gone clear,” said the PNP president, suggesting that it will win a fifth consecutive electoral term.

Simpson Miller, in one of her more charismatic presentations in front of comrades, endorsed Henry- Wilson as the party’s candidate for St Andrew South Eastern and gave clear indication that the party had been on the ground doing political work. The party president has been showing up in small communities across the island in a subtle political campaign.

Thursday night’s rally was a clear show of unity between Simpson Miller and Henry-Wilson, who served as campaign manager for Peter Phillips, in the bitter presidential elections 11 months ago.

Meanwhile, Simspon Miller, in expressing concern about the country’s high murder rate, stood firm on her position that criminals should not, and would not, know of police dragnets aimed at catching them.

She was referring to a high-level meeting between government officials and the security forces this week to discuss strategies to help stem the high crime rate.

She said that only individuals in league with criminals would want to protect them being caught in full flight.

At the same time, she warned PNP members and supporters that the party would be distancing itself from those found to be in league with violent activities.

Henry-Wilson, meanwhile, said she hoped the office would help to dissipate both the threat and reality of violence that has been overshadowing sections of her constituency.

Security Minister Peter Phillips, who also addressed the rally, reiterated hRs position that perpetrators of violence, irrespective of party affiliation, would be dealt the full force of the law.

– virtuee@jamaicaobserver.com