SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth — President of the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) Portia Simpson Miller on Sunday described the party’s defeat in the February 25 general election as a “temporary setback” and vowed to guide it through local government polls, which are expected soon.

Simpson Miler’s statement was another indication that she has no plan to walk away from party’s leadership at this time, despite calls for her to step aside and allow renewal.

“I have a duty to see the PNP through this local government election. I have a responsibility to get our party ready for the local government election. I will not ignore that responsibility,” Simpson Miller told cheering Comrades at a St Elizabeth North Eastern constituency conference at St Elizabeth Technical High School auditorium.

Manchester Central Member of Parliament and former PNP General Secretary Peter Bunting has voiced his ambition to seek leadership of the PNP at an “appropriate” time. However, he told Comrades at his constituency conference in Mandeville on Sunday night that now was not the right time to challenge for leadership.

Bunting said the party officers had asked aspirants to the party presidency to delay their ambitions in order to “avoid internal elections coinciding with or distracting from local government elections campaign. They don’t have to ask me that twice. I am a party man; I understand that completely.”

That claim, however, has been denied by PNP General Secretary Paul Burke, who said in a release to the media yesterday that “… the national officers have not asked Comrade Peter Bunting to decline or not to offer himself as a candidate for party president”.

Burke said it was correct that party chairman Robert Pickersgill had spoken to aspirants, but suggested that the senior party officer acted in a private capacity.

According to Burke, Pickersgill “indicated at the national officers’ meeting on July 4 that he would wish to know if there would be a contest for the position of party president and took it upon himself to check and verify with the ‘could be’ aspirants of their interest/ intent in offering themselves as candidates. The party chairman may have also taken it upon himself to have expressed his position and/or preference on the matter, and can therefore speak for himself on that matter”.

In Santa Cruz on Sunday night, Simpson Miller urged Comrades to unite behind her in order to win the local government elections.

There has been no indication from Prime Minister Andrew Holness, leader of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), when the election will be held. The PNP currently controls the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC), all parish councils, as well as the Portmore Municipal Council.

“This is not a time for retreat, not a time for surrender; this is a time to mobilise the People’s National Party as one mighty force,” Simpson Miller told Comrades who had gathered for what was described as the first St Elizabeth North Eastern constituency conference in several years. Member of Parliament Evon Redman was named unopposed as constituency chairman at the helm of a 12-member constituency executive.

Simpson Miller said the party should unite to “defend the people of Jamaica against the disastrous policies of the JLP. Comrades, we live to fight another day, we live to continue the struggle started by Norman Washington Manley and others who set out on a mission to build a better Jamaica.

“The race is not finished, our journey continues. Our focus now is on getting ready for the local government elections. As your leader, that is my political focus at this time. It should be the focus of the entire People’s National Party,” she said.

Simpson Miller, at the same time, said the party would “overcome” challenges such as what she described as a “deliberate attempt” to undermine PNP-controlled parish councils as well as discord within the PNP.

“We shall overcome the efforts of some people to sew the seeds of division and disunity in our party. The Comrades are saying we will not allow our party to be fractured and divided. We will not allow the work of our pioneers to go in vain, we will not sit idly by and watch the valiant efforts of our party workers and warriors go down the drain. now is a time for unity and we need all hands on deck…,” she said.

The Opposition leader said that many voted for the JLP on February 25 because of promises, including the promise of tax relief, but claimed that the people have been “scammed and tricked”.

She promised to meet with party workers all over the country as part of the drive to ensure a smooth local government election campaign.