KINGSTON, Jamaica — The People’s National Party (PNP) has appointed Brown University Professor Anthony Bogues as chair of the party’s revamped Policy/Vision Commission.

According to a statement from the PNP, the commission, formerly known as the Policy Commission, was reconstituted by party President Mark Golding earlier this year.

The Opposition party said the commission has been tasked with defining the contemporary political philosophy of the PNP through meaningful policy positioning.

According to the PNP, Bogues serves as the director of the Center of the Study of Slavery and Justice, is a chaired University Humanities Professor and lecturer on a variety of related topics.

”He possesses expertise in critical theory, political thought, and political philosophy, intellectual and cultural history,” the statement said.

”Professor Anthony Bogues worked closely with Prime Minister Michael Manley and in the 1980’s he was the secretary of the party’s Political Education Commission. He holds a deep understanding of the party’s earlier philosophies, as well as the necessary steps it must take in modernising those philosophies to meet the needs of today’s more interconnected world while serving the purpose of justice,” it added.

The PNP described the commission as a ”democratic working group of highly qualified members and supporters of the party, drawn from academia, governance, law, finance, advocacy, social development and other key sectors.”

”The entire commission meets monthly (and its sub committees also meet regularly) with the ultimate goal of crafting a transformational, 21st Century policy and vision document that is guided by equitable economic, social and political development and rooted in a transformational political philosophy, a feature which will distinguish the PNP,” the statement said.

The party said that the commission’s work will include sessions on the world economy to determine what current trends mean for Jamaica, as well as creating an economic, political, social and cultural profile of Jamaica as a basis for extensive discussion about the party’s vision. 

”The commission also intends to expand its work, and will make proposals about   reforming the Jamaican political system, as well as establishing the key elements of a transformative political outlook. The team is enthusiastically working to produce a discussion paper by the first quarter of 2022, which will be presented to the party’s NEC, after national consultation,” the PNP said.

According the party, the commission, through its sub-committees, has been working to prepare briefing papers on a number of issues that are crucial to defining the overall policy and vision of the party.

”The commission is presently composing a briefing paper on the implications that the use of arable land for housing development has on agriculture,” the statement explained.

”The commission is deeply committed to inclusivity, with care taken in ensuring gender balance, youth representatives, and adequate representation from the varying levels of the party’s structure. Each region, arm and affiliate of the party is represented,” it added.