The Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) on Monday announced plans to celebrate December 12 annually as Portia Simpson Miller Day, in honour of its former president and Prime Minister of Jamaica.

Making the announcement at a press briefing at the party’s Old Hope Road headquarters on the day when Simpson Miller marked her 77th birthday, current leader Mark Golding credited the decision to the National Executive Council (NEC) which met last Wednesday.

Golding, in making the declaration, however, indicated this is possibly one of the final highlights of Simpson Miller’s public life, as she continues to battle unnamed health problems which have virtually ruled out public appearances.

“I am sorry that she cannot be with us today, but her health situation no longer enables her to make public appearances,” he told a remorseful audience, conscious of the deterioration in her health since her retirement from active politics in 2017.

Golding, however, took the opportunity to express the party’s gratitude to the former leader’s achievements, including becoming Jamaica’s first female leader of a political party and first female prime minister.

“The PNP, and I personally, will always remember and appreciate what she has done for our party and, indeed, our beloved country,” he told the media briefing.

“She is a living example and inspiration to many of us, and she showed the world to never underrate the strength of a woman,” he said.

He recalled that Simpson Miller showed confidence in him by appointing him to several positions within the party, including senator, treasurer, Cabinet minister and leader of Opposition business in the Senate. This was prior to his election as Member of Parliament (MP) for St Andrew Southern, the seat in which she first started her political career and which he still represents.

Golding said that the NEC unanimously supported the proposal to celebrate her birthday annually, as well as to create a committee, to be headed by one of her close associates over the years, MP for St Andrew Western Anthony Hylton.

He said that there has already been an agreement for six scholarships to be awarded in her name to women in the party to study in the areas in which she served as minister, including local government, tourism and labour and social security.

PNP General Secretary Dr Dayton Campbell explained that the number of scholarships could increase to as many as 18 if the funds are made available.