MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Manchester Central Member of Parliament Peter Bunting last night rejected suggestions that his decision to challenge People’s National Party (PNP) President Dr Peter Phillips was motivated by selfishness.

Bunting told Comrades at a Knockpatrick Divisional Conference that until now he had never had to contest any position he has held in the party because he had always been asked to take control of responsibilities no one else wanted.

This included being declared general secretary when no one else wanted the job.

Bunting, a wealthy investment banker, recalled that there were times when his cheque book had kept the party afloat.

“There was a time when, without my cheque book the light woulda cut off at (PNP) HQ, the phone woulda cut off,” he said.

“In 2008, that contest at arena (Portia Simpson Miller was challenged by Peter Phillips) they wouldn’t let us in because they said money had been owed from previous years,” he said. It was his “personal cheque for over a million dollars drawn to allow… these are things that I probably have not said before publicly, but if they waan feisty wid me …I will say how it really go,” he said.

Bunting confirmed in a statement late Saturday that he will be challenging Phillips for the top post of the Opposition party.

Garfield Myers