THE professional arm of the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) — the Patriots — says new Party President Peter Phillips heralds a hopeful future for the nation and is the best-prepared Comrade to lead the party and country at this time.

Phillips, the spokesman on finance, became the fifth leader of the PNP last Sunday.

Chairman of the Patriots Javette Nixon said: “The Patriots will be relentless in its support of the new president and his agenda of inclusion of new blood to grow the party. We will double our efforts to recruit new members to create a new brigade of young professionals to advance the objectives of building a new Jamaica.”

And paying tribute to the former PNP President Portia Simpson Miller, the Patriots’ general secretary, Omar Newell described her as, “the mother of Jamaica’s economic modernity and the nation’s most morally dignified leader to date”.

“Her place in history is secured. Having served as the first female president of the PNP and prime minister of Jamaica, she may even become the Parliament’s first ’10-star’ general.

“Portia Simpson Miller is an example of the kind of outcome the People’s National Party wants for all of Jamaica — progress! She has a fascinating journey, moving from Wood Hall in St Catherine to occupying a permanent space in the hearts of all Jamaicans who now appreciate her service to party and country,” Newell said.

The Patriots said the new PNP president has already taken action to signal his focus on a new approach in bringing the organisation together, and his call for expansion of the recruitment effort is most appropriate at this time.