SAUTEURS, St. Patrick – St. Patrick West has emerged as a political hotspot ahead of the New National Party’s (NNP) highly anticipated convention on December 15, with internal party disputes threatening to overshadow the event.

A protest letter from the St. Patrick’s West Constituency Branch, addressed to NNP Political Leader Dr. Keith Mitchell and copied to senior party executives, alleges constitutional breaches in the selection of delegates.

The letter, signed by at least eight management committee members, accuses Victor Philip, the constituency’s appointed Political Lead and Caretaker, of secretly compiling an unauthorized list of delegates in violation of the NNP constitution.

It further alleges that Philip obstructed a branch meeting scheduled for Wednesday, December 4, to democratically select delegates for the convention.

In his defense, Philip vehemently denied the allegations.

“All I can tell you is that I am not aware of that. I have not done any list and am not aware of that,” he stated.

“People just making up assumptions and doing what they want and saying what they want. That’s the reality. I will tell you straight up that’s what it is. All I know is that they had tried to have a meeting without consulting me, and that’s all I know about.”

The protest letter demands immediate intervention from the NNP executive to uphold democratic principles. It calls for a resolution to ensure that only the legitimately selected delegates from the constituency are recognized at the convention.

“It is important that the practice of democracy is upheld in our Party and maintained at all times,” the letter emphasized, referencing a recent speech by Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness at the NNP’s 40th-anniversary celebration.

Holness’s remarks underscored the need for political parties to function as transparent, rules-based institutions.

“Political parties must be treated as formal, transparent institutions because they are effectively public bodies,” Holness said. “The people who run these organizations must ensure that their actions are transparent, that they are rules-based, and that they serve the people.”

The accusations in St. Patrick’s West come amid broader turmoil within the NNP. Dr. Keith Mitchell is facing allegations of using his influence to prevent Assistant General Secretary Peter David, a popular figure within the party, from challenging his leadership.

Mitchell’s establishment of a screening committee to vet candidates has been criticized as a tactic to block David’s candidacy, further straining party unity.