Two days after Paul Burke described the group structure and delegate selection processes within the People’s National Party (PNP) a cancerous threat to its democracy, the Arise and Renew team of leadership contender Dr Peter Phillips has admitted that the issue has been the subject of recurring discussion, but emphasised that the groups and delegates in his St Andrew East Central constituency are real.

“I am the one who interfaces with the secretariat on the campaign matters. And to date, the party has not formally identified or designated any group as bogus in any of the consultations,” Fitz Jackson, the point man for Phillips’ campaign, told journalists at a news conference yesterday.

The news conference, called to give an update on the progress of the campaign, resulted in the team facing tough questions about Burke’s allegations, some of which they dismissed.

However, Jackson later said, “We had one appeal yesterday (Wednesday) but there has not been any serious or overbearing expression of concern in that regard by either side.”

On Tuesday, Burke charged that seasonal and paper groups have been created in the party and that the corrupt practice had the tacit support of the party’s leaders.

“There is no doubt that there are powerful forces who have long wanted to control democracy within the People’s National Party.” said Burke, as he expressed frustration with the party for not dealing with the issue.

He alleged that bogus groups were formed in Dr Phillips’ constituency, as well as in St Andrew South West, represented by PNP president Portia Simpson Miller.

In the case of Phillips’ constituency, Burke said: “If we are to believe what we see on paper, in terms of groups, this is clearly and indisputably and by far, the strongest and best organised constituency in Jamaica, not only today, but ever in the 70-year history of the PNP.”

It was clear that Phillips’ support team was upset by the allegations which they claim gave the impression that they intend to hijack the presidency of the party.

According to Jackson, “Dr Phillips’ constituency does not have the largest bloc of delegates in the party.” However, he nodded in answer to a question from the audience whether it was Simpson Miller’s constituency that has the largest delegate bloc.

Commenting on the issue, Dr Phillips said: “There is no allegation that has been made by us, nor none that I know of has been made in the councils of the party and the secretariat that suggest any notion of criminality afoot in the establishment of groups. None that I know of.”

Added Phillips: “There is no doubt that the party’s executive has many times, for example, examined the question of how do we make the group structures more relevant to the realities of the party. For as long as I have been in the People’s National Party that (bogus groups) has been a recurring discussion.”

As far back as 1996, Burke raised the issue on the floor at the party’s annual conference at the National Arena and got promises from the leadership that it would receive full attention.

Yesterday, supporters of Phillips charged that bogus groups were a factor in the 2006 presidential election won by Simpson Miller and that Burke, who supported her, never had a problem then.

“But Portia campaign not going the way they wanted, so all of a sudden it is a problem,” said one angry supporter.