Former Prime Minister P. J. Patterson greets Pime Minister Portia Simpson Miller at the PNP's 74th Annual Conference at the National Arena in Kingston on Sunday, September 16, 2012. - Rudolph Brown/Photographer
WITH THE party celebrating its diamond anniversary, the People's National Party (PNP ) is in the process of laying the bricks for the next 25 years.Starting with a church service on April 7, the diamond celebrations will have two pillars under the theme "Honouring our Past ... A Powerful Foundation For Today and Tomorrow".
Former party president P.J. Patterson, who co-chairs the Anniversary Steering Committee alongside current president Portia Simpson Miller, says given its long history, intertwined with that of [color:3f63=blue !important][color:3f63=blue !important]Jamaica, the party is undertaking a reflection and discourse as a means "to enable increased transparency, effective participation and rigour in ensuring integrity throughout the party and governance for Jamaica".
Founded in 1938, the PNP prides itself in having played critical leadership roles throughout Jamaica's history. Patteron has pointed, for example, at agitating and laying the foundation for Universal Adult Suffrage. He also said the party fought and crafted the framework and institutions of independent Jamaica and bravely transformed access to education that led to the formation of the middle class and a more equitable society.
"Despite the current tendency to discredit the role of political parties, no one can deny their essential value to the promotion of the economic and social welfare in a democratic society. And so in keeping with our theme, we believe that 'Honouring our Past' constitutes 'A Powerful Foundation For Today and Tomorrow' for the party and Jamaica," Patterson said.
Party chairman Robert Pickersgill says the activities for the diamond anniversary will "include engagement throughout the party as well as wider society to contemplate how to effectively transform its structures in this new dispensation of 2013 onwards".
In the meantime, Patterson told The Gleaner that given the party's history, it has "just cause - not simply to celebrate - but a solemn duty to respect, reflect, renew, recharge and reinvigorate".
He said there are two dimensions to the celebrations; firstly to properly assess, celebrate and honour our past, which will include bestowing honours on persons who have made sacrifice to build and extend the party's outreach, especially in the formative years.
"We also intend to revive the tradition of honouring some from among our number for the singular contributions that they have made. This will take the form of updating the Honour Roll and the proposed establishment of a [color:3f63=blue !important][color:3f63=blue !important]museum," Patterson said.
Documentary and book
He also said the party intends to launch a commemorative documentary and book, which will reflect the party's role in the development of the political landscape in the region and the world.
Meanwhile, the second aspect of the PNP's diamond celebrations will be to utilise its foundation "from which we can fashion a full response to the present and future challenges with which our [color:3f63=blue !important][color:3f63=blue !important]nation is confronted."
"We will examine how we advance empowerment of our citizens; how do we widen democratic participation; how do we ensure integrity and increase transparency," Patterson said.
North East St Elizabeth Member of Parliament Raymond Pryce has been charged with leading a sub-committee which will foster discussions across [color:3f63=blue !important][color:3f63=blue !important]the [color:3f63=blue !important]island, which will include wider sectoral groups to prepare for the consideration and approval of party conference and how it advances its mission.
Those discussions are set to begin by July.
"The discussions will contemplate how to effectively transform the party structures in this new dispensation of 2013 onwards," Patterson said.
He added: "While the core values of social justice and equality of opportunity are inviolate and continue to be our guide, we must find impactful ways by which to promote these progressive values and achieve sustainable economic growth and development for Jamaica."