VETERAN Vice-President of the Opposition People’s National Party Dr Fenton Ferguson has buried the view that age should be a factor in deciding the outcome of party elections due within six weeks.

Dr Ferguson, in his sixties, is seeking his 12th term as vice-president of the party, which is marking 80 years of existence this year since its formation out of the workers’ movement in 1938. He is the oldest of the six candidates who have set out to challenge for four positions in the second-highest office that the party offers.

But while he strongly believes that youth have a significant role to play in running political organisations, Dr Ferguson insists that there needs to be a good “age blend,” and so he has decided to put himself forward again in the hope that the delegates of the party will give him the ringing endorsement that he got when they last voted to decide VPs in 2016. At that time he emerged as the VP with most votes cast, even more than votes received for President Portia Simpson Miller, who was challenged by Dr E Karl Blythe, himself a former vice-president.

“There are those who believe that by virtue of age, one should step aside to make way for younger folks as a normal way of life,” Dr Ferguson told the Jamaica Observer in a midweek interview.

“Being a supporter for renewal, political parties or businesses do not take away from having a blend of experience and youth. I believe that having had the responsibility for youth as part of the Government between 1995 and 1998 — and a product of the 4-H Youth Club, Police Youth Club, and community youth clubs, has landed me beyond just talk,” Dr Ferguson stated.

The dental surgeon by profession is going up against fellow incumbents Dr K Wykeham McNeill and Dr Angela Brown Burke; as well as newcomers Mikhail Phillips, Damion Crawford and Phillip Paulwell. In 2016, Ferguson got 2,479 delegate votes of the 3,339 certified to vote. He was followed in the count by Dr McNeill with 2,395; Arscott, 2207; and Brown Burke, 2,009. the fifth candidate, Lisa Hanna, ended with 1,570 votes.

Dr Ferguson also put forward as his reasons for seeking to continue as one of President Dr Peter Phillips’s deputies his energy and commitment to the cause.

“I am energetic, fit, and mentally sharp for the purpose. I have maintained stability and have been a stabilising force in the party, caring for the most vulnerable. Any day I believe that I would not be able to give full support and value to the political process, no one will have to ask me to step aside. The team that will emerge will represent a strong blend between youth and experience, backed up with integrity. I have also had long-standing relationships and partnerships with the women, the most vulnerable, including the disabled within the party, and therefore I will continue with that focus. I also believe that this is a period that recognises a new approach to political education and fully embracing the use of technology in the political process, and also for the educational challenges in my own constituency. This is why I spend $8 million of $20 million on education and training from the CDF (Constituency Development Fund) geared basically towards young people.”

The Member of Parliament for St Thomas Eastern is seen as one of the favourites to clinch one of the spots. He has never lost a contested election for vice-presidents, and when he ran in the stormy election for vice-presidents in 2008, he was the only member of the slate that was loyal and sympathetic to Dr Phillips to have won a VP spot — all the others going to Simpson Miller loyalists. Dr Phillips had challenged Simpson Miller for the leadership of the party in 2006 and 2008, losing both times.

While highlighting some of his achievements, Dr Ferguson emphasised that his love for young people has never been questioned. His work in the State fixture for many years, also saw him focusing on projects that accommodated the youth.

“I brought back the National Youth Service in 1995, under P J Patterson’s instructions, and improved the PNP Youth Organisation in 1996. I have had political responsibility for 4H Clubs when I was in charge of youth as minister of state in agriculture, and in my own constituency I have supported every growth initiative. So I am strongly in support of renewal.”

A special eye, he believes, ought to be pitched at party stalwarts who have fallen on tough times after serving the party tirelessly. Apart from State support, he is adamant that the party apparatus must get behind those who have served with distinction.

“I also believe that within the party we must continue to focus on the old Comrades and their welfare, taking every opportunity to have awards and appreciation functions while looking after their welfare.

“While some have received help, there needs to be a structured programme, separate from what they receive from Government resources. Partnerships with the public and private sectors must continue… I have been doing that for 26 years through the Friends of St Thomas and that will continue.

“On the last occasion in 2016 that the party voted for vice-presidents, I would have had the most votes by any VP for which I am grateful. On this occasion, while the outcome is important in terms of positions, I think we have to continue to put party above self and ask of the delegates to ensure that Fenton Ferguson, the man from the east, a central figure in Region Two, be given the opportunity to be one of the four elected VPs. I affirm that I will continue to serve with integrity, credibility and, most of all, loyalty to the leader and leadership of the party in my thrust to make the PNP the choice of the people of Jamaica in any future general election.”

And what about slates? Will he be part of one?

“I am not a part of any slate. It is well known that a good ballot must have four persons, so there are three others whose names must be placed on that ballot for it to be valid. I must admit that there are five other candidates that are worthy persons and, while I am seeking office, the others will always have my love and respect as they, too, try to convince the delegates that they also can contribute efficiently and effectively from that high level,” Dr Ferguson said.