<!-- wp:image {"id":3270} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/08/peter-bunting-nom-day-buzz-1-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-3270" /><figcaption>Candidate and challenger for the presidency of the People's National Party (PNP) Peter Bunting (Photo: Don Waysome)</figcaption></figure>
<!-- /wp:image -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Presidential candidate for the People’s National
Party (PNP) Peter Bunting says his surprise challenge for the top role has
already boosted morale within the organisation.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Bunting, who spoke to <strong>BUZZ</strong> on the ground of Stadium East following a successful nomination exercise on Friday, July 26, explained that the PNP needed his challenge to re-energise the party after a string of defeats.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:image {"id":3271} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/08/peter-bunting-nom-day-buzz-6-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-3271" /><figcaption>'Powaaa'! Comrades sound their battle cries at the PNP headquarters on Old Hope Road on Nomination Day (Photo: Don Waysome)</figcaption></figure>
<!-- /wp:image -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>“I think it is very important for us and for the [PNP]. The root of the matter is the party had been flat for a while, particularly losing a series of by-elections, the morale was low,” Bunting told <strong>BUZZ</strong>.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Bunting, who also sits as Member of
Parliament for Central Manchester, was the source of much jubilation from
comrades, who paraded in sections of Kingston, anticipating an overwhelming
victory in September.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:image {"id":3272} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/08/peter-bunting-nom-day-buzz-3-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-3272" /><figcaption>Comrades invade sections of the Corporate Area to offer their support to presidential aspirant Peter Bunting and his 'Rise United' campaign (Photo: Don Waysome)</figcaption></figure>
<!-- /wp:image -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>The ‘Rise United’ leader explained that already,
whether the ‘One PNP’ team would like to accept it or not, the party has been
infected with the most zest and vim in recent months.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>“In the six weeks or so since we announced the Rise United campaign, particularly since we launched, we’ve injected a sense of purpose in the party,” Bunting told <strong>BUZZ</strong>.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>“An excitement, an energy, a passion has
been re-emerging,” he added.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:image {"id":3277} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/08/peter-bunting-nom-day-buzz-9-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-3277" /><figcaption>'We Can Win' - the personification of hope for the Rise United campaign (Photo: Don Waysome)</figcaption></figure>
<!-- /wp:image -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Reflecting on the massive turnout for his
nomination, Bunting noted, “I’m feeling quite excited. Of course, I’m very
grateful for the tremendous support; the thousands who have come out just to
walk with me to HQ to be nominated. We got a tremendous reception right across
the board.”</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Bunting said he was especially pleased to
see young Jamaicans among those participating in the Rise United campaign – a telling
sign that the PNP’s appeal is growing on millennials.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>“I’m excited to see the number of young people coming to our events, because some thought the JLP were doing much better among the 18-30 cohort. And with five or six weeks left in the campaign,” the presidential challenger told <strong>BUZZ</strong>.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:image {"id":3274} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/08/peter-bunting-nom-day-buzz-5-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-3274" /><figcaption>From the mouths and minds of comrades, Rise United is more than a campaign. It's a movement, a calling (Photo: Don Waysome)</figcaption></figure>
<!-- /wp:image -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>While he acknowledged much can change leading
up to that fateful election day, Bunting assured that his campaign will be focused
and robust on what truly matters: <strong>the
delegates</strong>.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>“A week in politics is a long time, we don’t
want to take any chances. We’re just going to be targeted in terms of engaging
delegates in small groups or even one-to-one – persuading them to our message,”
he indicated.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>“We want the party members and supporters
to believe that we can win the next general election and to start operating
with that confidence in a modern way to move forward,” Bunting further
remarked.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:image {"id":3273} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/08/peter-bunting-nom-day-buzz-4-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-3273" /><figcaption>Bunting gets the crowd riled up on Nomination Day (Photo: Don Waysome)</figcaption></figure>
<!-- /wp:image -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>When pressed to offer a word to delegates he hasn’t met just yet, Bunting assured undecided voters, “The Rise United campaign is on its way to your town and your community.”</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>The showdown between challenger Peter Bunting and the incumbent Dr. Peter Phillips, for the future of the PNP, takes place on Saturday, September 7.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->