The People’s National Party (PNP) yesterday expressed full support for Portia Simpson Miller as she marked her first year as president of the ruling party.

A news release from the party said that its six Regional Executive Councils (RECs) passed resolutions applauding Simpson Miller’s leadership and the manner in which she has led both the PNP and the Government over the past year.

“The resolutions expressly state that the party will ensure the party president her own mandate and first term in Government whenever she announces the election, which is constitutionally due in October,” the PNP said.

Delegates elected Simpson Miller president of the PNP on February 25, 2006 after a bruising campaign that split the party.

Other contenders for the post were National Security Minister Dr Peter Phillips, Finance Minister Dr Omar Davies, and former Cabinet minister and PNP vice president Dr Karl Blythe.

Simpson Miller’s historic victory not only guaranteed that she succeeded P J Patterson as PNP president but as prime minister of the country after he retired as head of the Government on March 29 last year.

However, a few months after her inauguration, Simpson Miller started attracting flak for her leadership, and the cracks in the PNP grew wider.

Party insiders say that Patterson eventually had to step in and heal the wounds, and since then the PNP has sought to portray an image of unity.

Yesterday, the party said that each of the REC meetings watched a video presentation of “the many achievements of the Government and the party” since Simpson Miller came to power.

“In her video presentation to the meetings, Mrs Simpson Miller also reminded the comrades to hold firmly to the founding principles of the party, including service, development, putting people first at all times and to always serve our communities,” the PNP news release said.