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Monday, February 27, 2006 - Prime Minister Dr. Kenny D. Anthony says the
election of a woman as the next Prime Minister of Jamaica is a triumph not only
for her but also for all the women of Jamaica and the rest of the Caribbean.
In a message of congratulations to Mrs. Portia Simpson-Miller on her election as
the new President of the ruling People’s National Party (PNP), Dr. Anthony noted
that “it’s a tribute to the women of your country and our region that you have
been chosen for the task of leading your country in these challenging times.”
Prime Minister Anthony congratulated Mrs. Simpson Miller “for executing a
brilliant and well-planned campaign to become the first woman President of your
party and the first woman Prime Minister of your country.”
He said she “carried out a courageous and determined fight and prevailed despite
the odds.”
The St. Lucian PM said he looked forward to working with the new Jamaican
leader, “to continue to advance the cause of our respective people and to work
together to continue building the structures for meaningful and effective
regional integration.”
Dr. Anthony, who is also Leader of the ruling Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP),
said: “I also look forward to working closely with the new PNP Leader, to
further cement the fraternal ties and bonds of friendship between our respective
parties, in our mutual interests.”
Prime Minister Anthony fondly recalled Mrs. Simpson-Miller's “sterling feature
address at the Saint Lucia Labour Party's Annual Conference in 1998, when she
reaffirmed the solidarity and friendship between the SLP and the PNP.”
Mrs. Simpson Miller is the fourth President of the PNP.
She is a long-standing member of the leadership of Jamaica’s ruling party and
her election clears the way for her to replace Prime Minister P.J. Patterson
when he steps down in a few weeks time.
Mr. Patterson succeeded the late Prime Minister Michael Manley, whose father,
Norman Washington Manley, was a founder of the PNP in 1938.