THE People’s National Party (PNP) Secretariat on Thursday attempted to prevent Clarendon Central caretaker Zuleika Jess from being nominated for one of the Opposition party’s four vice-president posts, triggering anger among her supporters during what insiders say was a stormy meeting at the organisation’s headquarters in St Andrew.

Jess, an attorney-at-law who had contested the seat in the September 2020 General Election, had gone to the party’s Old Hope Road headquarters to serve notice of her intention to contest the position at the PNP’s annual conference scheduled for September.

However, party insiders said an attempt was made to dissuade her from running, as the party was keen on avoiding an election, given that it is still trying to heal wounds lingering from a divisive and unsuccessful leadership challenge to Dr Peter Phillips by Peter Bunting in 2019.

At press time Thursday night the Jamaica Observer was unable to determine if Jess’s nomination had been accepted. Earlier, PNP General Secretary Dr Dayton Campbell, when asked repeatedly to explain what had happened in the meeting, would only offer, “We’re sorting out some issues, and we’ll speak to the media at a later date.”

However, Conrad O’Brien, one of Jess’s supporters who was seen driving out of the premises, told that Observer that he left the meeting out of frustration.

“I was in the meeting and I’m quite upset, so I walked out… I’m certainly not pleased. They are trying to prevent her from nominating, and by virtue of that you would basically get her out of the race,” O’Brien said.

“If they decide not to have her nominate, then certainly she would not be able to offer herself, but that could be doubly problematic. I can’t say what people will do, but based on the kind of groundswell she has been receiving, I don’t think that people would basically take it very lightly, especially against the background that, from day one, persons were being called left, right, and centre to persuade her to withdraw her candidature,” he added.

“Should they take and hold that position it would be a very, very, very sad day for the People’s National Party,” he said.

Party insiders also told the Observer that the secretariat was bluntly told that if Jess was prevented from contesting the position the PNP would lose votes in the next local government election.

Since 2019, when Dr Phillips beat back Bunting’s challenge, the party has been struggling to unite, and current President Mark Golding, who had supported Bunting, has been beating the pavement in an effort to heal the wounds.

Earlier this week Golding told journalists that he does not expect a challenge to his presidency at the annual conference, but pointed out that anything is possible before nominations close on Friday, July 8.

The party had expected to go into the conference without having to hold an election for the vice-presidential posts, two of which are already held by Norman Scott and Ian Hayles.

Senator Donna Scott-Mottley and Mikhail Phillips, the Member of Parliament for Manchester North Western and the son of Dr Phillips, have already been nominated.