The caucus of young professionals aligned to the People’s National Party, the Patriots, at its 2016 Retreat
held Saturday, September 3, 2016 at the Holiday Inn Resort, Montego Bay reviewed the three resolutions
that the group will be taking to 78th Annual Conference of the Party:
◆ Term Limitations
◆ A resolution calling for an automatic Affirmative Vote after election loss
◆ Redefinition of the philosophical principles of the Party
The weekend retreat was also used to discuss the group’s involvement in the up-coming local government
elections and the group agreed on areas where it intends to lend its support.
Presidential and vice presidential candidates were invited to address the group.
The group received presentations from Dr. Wyckham McNeil, Lisa Hanna and surrogate Eugene Kelly
who spoke on behalf of Angela Brown Burke who are some of the candidates vying for the four vacant
Vice President spots.
Dr. Karl Blythe also made an appeal to the group for support, telling the patriots that his criticism of the
party leader might have been precipitous and he offered an apology. He went on to say that his action in
challenging the party leader is aimed at saving the PNP, and that he has no intention of leading the party
beyond March 2017 at which time he believes a new leader would have emerged.
The group, which boasts collectively some 37 delegates, drawn mainly from Kingston and St Andrew,
Portland, St. James and Manchester took note of and congratulated its Chairman, Javette Nixon on being
selected to be a fellow in the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative(YLAI). The group noted that he
along with the other seven (7) Jamaicans selected will be afforded a tremendous opportunity to learn and
develop their entrepreneurial skills, bringing a more innovative and global perspective to the way we
approach business in Jamaica.
The Patriots expressed full confidence in Nixon; stating that he will serve as an excellent/exceptional
ambassador for Jamaica and will use all knowledge gained during his five-week stay to advance the
country’s development agenda.
The group also outlined its programme of political activity for the upcoming political year which
included, expansion in its membership across all 63 constituencies, continued cutting edge and
progressive policy advocacy that advances the interests of young people and young professionals, and to
aid in the technological modernization of the communication platform of the party.
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Selected video footage is available upon request
Contact Information: Omar Newell
(876)388-1368
thepnppatriots@gmail.com
