PEOPLE'S
NATIONAL Party (PNP) president-elect and Prime Minister-designate,
Portia Simpson Miller, yesterday steered clear of questions
about possible Cabinet reshuffles, policy announcements or a
snap election.
Fielding
questions while leaving a church service in east Kingston, less
than 24 hours after she was elected the first female president
of the PNP, Mrs. Simpson Miller stated that it would be premature
to respond at this time.
She was
looking forward to sleep last night after a historic and hectic
weekend.
Her election
victory on Saturday was followed by a party at New Kingston's
Asylum Nightclub and two church services yesterday.
"I
hardly got any sleep last night and I think it was very good
that my first appointment (after the election) was representing
the Prime Minister (P.J. Patterson) at a church service at the
Baptist Union Assembly this morning," she said.
The Gleaner
caught up with Mrs. Simpson Miller yesterday evening as she
left her second service of the day held at the Pentecostal Gospel
Temple, Windward Road in Kingston. She was there to help honour
another female leader and head of that church, Bishop Dr. Carmen
Stewart, the Custos of Kingston and St. Andrew.
IN NEED
OF THE CHURCH'S HELP
On Saturday,
the 60-year-old Mrs. Simpson Miller became the first woman elected
to the leadership of a major political party in Jamaica. With
that victory, she is now slated to become the first female Prime
Minister in the nation's history.
Speaking
early yesterday at the Jamaica Baptist Union's 156th General
Assembly, held at the National Arena in Kingston, Mrs. Simpson
Miller included pastors in her vision for working towards national
unity.
"Pastors,
I will be depending upon you to assist me in also promoting
the good family life," she said.
Speaking
after the second service, surrounded by well-wishers and children,
she also pledged her efforts towards the latter.
"I
hope I will be able to do some special things for the children,
who are our future leaders," she said.
Asked whether
female foreign leaders had contacted her, she replied, "My
phone at home is very hot, very hot at this time."
The PNP
president-elect and Prime Minister-designate said she had received
messages from leaders of two CARICOM countries and members of
the United States Congress but acknowledged that she might have
missed several other calls given her busy schedule.
