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<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/09/Peter-Bunting-Feature-Image-Buzz-Caribbean-1024x614.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-8295" /></figure>
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<p>Recent
challenger for the PNP leadership seat, Peter Bunting, walked away with a
narrow defeat on Saturday (Sept. 7) losing by 75 votes to incumbent leader,
Peter Phillips.</p>
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<p>Bunting, this
morning, however, shared a sombre video through his social media platforms,
encouraging PNP supporters to “Rise Together”, pulling on the taglines used by
both campaign teams.</p>
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<p>He noted that
the challenge represented “one of the most significant experiences of [his]
political career.” The response to the campaign he outlined, was an energizing
and inspiring experience for himself and the party.</p>
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<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/09/pnp-election-bunting2-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-7900" /></figure>
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<p>A mandate was
given to the party’s leadership to fuel the energy garnered from the campaign.
“The task now for leadership of the PNP, really not just one side or the other,
is how to channel that energy… so that we maintain that in the interest of the
party going forward, “Bunting said.</p>
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<p>He urged the
leadership not to allow those who have been re-engaged and re-energised not to
“lapse back into non-participation in the political process.”</p>
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<p>The message comes after the <a href="https://buzz-caribbean.com/article/more-casualties-peter-bunting-mark-golding-resign/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="formal resignations (opens in a new tab)">formal resignations</a> from Bunting himself, along with other members of his Rise United team including Dayton Campbell and Mark Golding. Dr Peter Phillips, subsequently, requested via Twitter that all spokespersons remain in their positions.</p>
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<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://twitter.com/DrPeterPhillips/status/1171141560542666752
</div></figure>
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<p>Many pundits
have weighed in on the results of the internal campaign, noting that it has the
potential of leaving the PNP divided and incapable of putting up a solid
opposition to the ruling Jamaica Labour Party.</p>
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<p>Bunting ended his message, noting that the campaign has left him “more vulnerable” while sharing his confidence that they’ve made a “tremendous impact” which he hopes “will be sustained for the betterment of Jamaica.”</p>
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<p>See the full video below:</p>
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<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.instagram.com/tv/B2OsCopg0eL/?igshid=1viykhtv6wou4
</div></figure>
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