People’s National Party (PNP) General Secretary Paul Burke has taken issue with the lead story in this week’s Sunday Observer, labelling it misleading and an attempt to create mischief and division with the party.

Here is his full statement in response to the story.

Today’s headline story in the

Sunday Observer, Sunday 3rd July, ‘Portia swings the ball’ is not only wholly misleading, but full of inaccuracies. I do not believe that it represents poor journalism but a determined and contrived attempt to mislead and aimed at creating mischief, confusion and division within the ranks of the PNP.

This is an attempt to divert the party organisation and key members from where our focus presently is, that is, preparing for the impending Local Government Elections.

The story comes against the background that I have been available and accessible to the media and there has been no attempt by the

Observer to confirm or deny information relating to me. In April of this year, I had what I thought was both an amicable and productive meeting with theObserver editorial team, pointing out the several breaches of their own ethics concerning previous articles relating to me. I would want to believe that they accepted all my concerns based on the conversation that morning, although there was no formal acknowledgement that they did.

As general secretary and as individual, I want no war with the fourth estate and seek none. However, I will again be requesting a meeting with the

Observer editorial team to deal with the breaches in their won ethics and based on that request and discussion, determine whether or not to report Mr HG Helps to the Press Association of Jamaica for irresponsible and unprofessional journalism.

INACCURACY NO 1

Sunday Observer: “The fashioned plan prior to the start of the NEC meeting at the University of the West Indies, was for Simpson Miller to signal to the second highest decision-making group in the party that she would step down by time of the Annual Conference in September, and endorse Phillips as her likely successor, which would have served as a body blow to the other presidential hopeful, Peter Bunting, who has already expressed his intention to become president of the PNP.”

There was absolutely no such intention by any of us. As someone who was aware of the party president’s thinking, this was never on the cards, as such an announcement would have been totally inappropriate and if there had ever been such thinking, it would have had my strong objection.

INACCURACY NO 2

Sunday Observer: “That followed discussions between Paulwell, General Secretary Paul Burke, Phillips and other members for a section of Simpson Miller’s speech to the NEC to include her openly endorsing Phillips as the next man with the leadership plan.”

I have never had any such discussions with this group. This is a downright lie.

INACCURACY NO 3

Sunday Observer: “TheSunday Observer learnt that Burke communicated the wish to have that information inserted in Simpson Miller’s speech to Falconer for it to be announced during her address to delegates, but it was never done, as Simpson Miller opted against it, as according to some close to her, she did not feel comfortable doing it.”

I have been clear about my own views and totally supportive of the party president’s decision to stand for the position of president at the 78th Annual Conference, September 2016. Yes, I had wished for the party president to be more specific about her post-Annual Conference timetable, and on her own request had made my suggestion to her on this matter which she declined to announce and I respect her right to decline. It has not created any problems or issues in our excellent relationship and we literally speak every day.

INACCURACY NO 4

Sunday Observer: “The development did not go down too well with certain NEC members who were supportive of the plan, and sources said that Phillips and Paulwell in particular were left fuming in the end.

To the very best of my knowledge, Phillip Paulwell and Peter Phillips never left any meeting fuming. This was not represented to me in any of the post NEC conversations I have had with them prior to today (both separately), and reconfirmed with them today.