Montego Bay, St James – As the presidential race intensifies in the People’s National Party (PNP), front- runner Portia Simpson Miller has dismissed critics who question her ability to represent Jamaica on the international stage, saying she would be like other world leaders, who use advisors.

“I had the pleasure of watching one contender the other day and the contender said that in selecting the next leader you have to select one that can speak internationally – and I agree,” said Simpson Miller, a Cabinet minister in charge of local government and sport.

“And I asked the question, who from the team of contenders can’t speak to anybody internationally? It couldn’t be me.”

Simpson Miller, who took her campaign out to the western end of the country and was addressing supporters at the exclusive Round Hill resort in Hanover, Friday, insisted that leadership candidates did not have to possess a doctorate to be successful.

“I hear a number of things being said, and I want to caution people not to go around telling people that if you don’t have a doctorate, you can’t manage, because there are a number of people – outstanding businessmen of this country – who are driving things in this country who have never been through the doors of a university,” said Simpson Miller, the only woman to contest party leadership and who is seeking the party top spot, and ultimately the prime ministership, for the second time.

“The government, from time to time, seeks advice from them so why do we meet with them to get advice from them if we feel that people without big degrees can’t run anything?” she asked.

Two of the five PNP contenders – Peter Phillips and Omar Davies – hold doctorates. The others are Karl Blythe, a medical doctor, and Robert Pickersgill, a lawyer.

Simpson Miller herself holds a first degree, but she insists that academic qualification is not the most important determinant for good leadership. Key, she said, was consultations with the governed.

“Whether you have degrees or not or whether you name doctor or you don’t name doctor, I know I have challenges, and I don’t profess to know everything,” said Simpson Miller.

“My thing is inclusiveness and I’m about consultation…”

Simpson Miller further noted that there were no leaders in the world who governed without advisors.

“Why it is if prime ministers are travelling – whether it was (Edward) Seaga or Michael Manley, whether it was (Hugh) Shearer or whomever – and based upon your agenda you would maybe take somebody from foreign affairs who is versed and is the expert in that area? Is it not because you don’t know everything and you want to be advised on what was happening in that area?” she asked.

Exuding confidence, Simpson Miller also posed the question as to why all the other candidates considered her a big threat in the presidential race – insisting that it was tacit acknowledgment that she was the people’s choice.

“How you can have so many contenders, but everybody is running against Portia? Then something must be good about Portia,” she insisted, referring to herself, as she sometimes does, in the third person.

“If I were not somebody to look at seriously, then all the people would not be trying to get me out first before they deal with the others.”

Added the local government minister: “A woman is going to run this country in the 21st century. I have something to say and no man can dispute it – none. The country needs a mother and the nurturing hands of a mother.”

hinesh@jamaicaobserver.com