The People’s National Party (PNP) yesterday denied that there was division in the Cabinet over the new date for general elections and announced a vigorous resumption of its campaign to win the September 3 polls.

At the same time, campaign manager Donald Buchanan admitted that the administration’s confirmation of the new election date, which was recommended by the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ), was made in response to public pressure, but belittled those who were most vocal in criticising the Government for delaying the announcement.

“Most of the civic organisations and several front page editorials have been making this demand. We are not unmindful of the vocal minority,” Buchanan said, adding that the concerns of the majority had also been considered.

The general elections were initially set for tomorrow, August 27, but were postponed after Hurricane Dean wrecked sections of the island last Sunday night.

The category four storm killed three people, knocked out water and electricity and did extensive damage to buildings, crops and infrastructure.

On Sunday night, after the storm had passed, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller declared a state of public emergency in an effort, she said, to protect lives and property.

On Tuesday, the Daily Observer reported that the ECJ had met on Monday and recommended that the elections be postponed to September 3. However, during the week reports surfaced that the Cabinet was divided on the recommendation.

With the original August 27 election date fast approaching, the Government came under heavy criticism from the media, private sector and human rights groups, the political opposition and members of the public to formally name the new election date.

On Friday, Governor-General Kenneth Hall, on the advice of the prime minister, announced that the ECJ’s recommendation had been accepted. He also announced an end to the state of public emergency which had also earned the Government heavy flak.

Yesterday, Buchanan said the party was satisfied that it was time for the state of emergency to be lifted.

He told journalists at a press conference called by the PNP’s campaign directorate at the party’s Old Hope Road headquarters in Kingston that the PNP would have liked for the hurricane recovery process to be further along before resuming its campaign activities.

The party had halted campaign activities for a week due to the hurricane.

Buchanan said the PNP had been receiving “overwhelming support” on the ground, which he said, would “translate into votes”.

“There is not a single poll that we have seen in the last four, five months which has not had the People’s National Party in the ascendancy. The extent of the ascendancy will vary, but all polls have had us in the ascendancy,” said Buchanan in response to queries that statistically the Jamaica Labour Party had been gaining ground.

Additionally, Buchanan said the hurricane relief effort would not be used as a campaign tool, as there were mechanisms in place to ensure that non-partisan organisations manage the aid.

Meanwhile, campaign director Dr Paul Robertson said the party had “met with all our candidates, campaign managers… and I will say that we are very competitive”.

Buchanan, flanked by party vice-president Dr Peter Phillips and party chairman Robert Pickersgill, said the PNP leader, Simpson Miller, whom he commended for maintaining a “firm and correct position in the face of unwarranted criticism” regarding her decision to impose and maintain the state of public emergency, was out touring communities affected by Hurricane Dean.