LEADER of the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) Portia Simpson Miller yesterday appointed four newcomers to her team of 20 shadow spokespersons, describing the group as a good mix of seasoned campaigners and young, upcoming future leaders in the party.

The four new faces – Noel Arscott, Ian Hayles, Colin Fagan and Natalie Neita-Headley – were among Simpson Miller’s supporters in this month’s internal elections which she won to retain the party presidency over Dr Peter Phillips.

“When I was going through the process, I decided that I was going for individuals who wanted to serve, who were willing to serve and who would bring energy to the process in keeping with the development agenda,” Simpson Miller told the Observer after yesterday’s press conference at the PNP’s Old Hope Road headquarters in Kingston where she announced what the party is calling its Council of Spokespersons.

Peter Bunting, the PNP general secretary, was surprisingly appointed to the high-profile national security portfolio, formerly held by Dr Phillips who, after the September 20 election, resigned as spokesman on national security and as Leader of Opposition Business in the House.

That parliamentary task was given to Derrick Kellier, who will also speak on labour and social security, while Neita-Headley will serve as Deputy Leader of Opposition Business in the House and shadow the public service portfolio.

Pointing out that Neita-Headley’s background was in human resources and industrial relations, Simpson Miller said she was confident that Neita-Headley would rise to the occasion.

Neita-Headley is a candidate for the chairmanship of the party’s Region 4, which includes constituencies in St Catherine and Clarendon in elections this weekend.

Two members of parliament who supported Phillips were retained in the council. They are Dr Wykeham McNeil, spokesman on tourism and entertainment; and Dr Fenton Ferguson, health.

Arscott will speak on environment, science and technology; Michael Peart has been given mining; Dr Omar Davies retains finance and planning; Robert Pickersgill, infrastructure and housing; Roger Clarke, agriculture, land and rural development; Anthony Hylton, foreign affairs and foreign trade; Phillip Paulwell, energy and telecommunications; Lisa Hanna, information, youth and culture; Hayles, investment and development; Fagan, local government and community development; A J Nicholson, leader of Opposition Business in the Senate and spokesman on justice and constitutional affairs; Mark Golding, industry and commerce; Basil Waite, education; and Sandrea Falconer, gender and religious affairs. Simpson Miller has retained the sports portfolio.

Addressing Bunting’s appointment, Simpson Miller said he would bring something to the table. She also admitted that the PNP administration failed to bring the crime problem to an acceptable level.

“We did not bring it to a level that was acceptable,” she said. “But we have to understand that a government and opposition alone cannot do it. It is a national problem and maybe we have to ask for the National Arena for a gathering to register our disgust.”