Dean Peart yesterday quit as the Opposition spokesman on local government and the environment in the first of what is likely to be a flurry of resignations today from the People's National Party (PNP) in the wake of Portia Simpson Miller's defeat of Dr Peter Phillips' challenge to her presidency Saturday.

Peart, the Member of Parliament for Manchester North West and Phillips supporter, handed in his resignation yesterday at the PNP's Old Hope Road headquarters in Kingston, saying that he was giving Simpson Miller a free hand to choose spokespersons with whom she is comfortable.

However, his comments signalled that his decision was also influenced by the deep division in the party which acted as a catalyst for Phillips' challenge.

"I don't want to be put in a position for anyone to sabotage me," Peart told the Observer last night. "I would like to know that when someone is telling lies on me, somebody is there to defend me. Truth is foreign to some people. But I have nowhere going. I will remain in the PNP, I am not joining the JLP, but I will go to Parliament today and sit comfortably in the back benches."

Last night, highly placed sources inside the PNP said that other Phillips backers Sharon Hay-Webster, the MP for St Catherine South Central; Dr Wykeham McNeil, Westmoreland Western; and Maxine Henry-Wilson, St Andrew South Eastern were all set to hand in their resignations as portfolio spokespersons today, all on a point of principle to allow Simpson Miller to craft a new shadow cabinet.

It was not immediately clear whether Phillips himself would step down as Opposition spokesman on national security and leader of Opposition Business in the House of Representatives. However, he was said to be in discussions with Simpson Miller last night.

A total of 2,332 PNP delegates voted to retain Simpson Miller as leader of the party, giving her a 373 majority over Phillips who received 1,959 votes.

But even as the election settled the question of the party's leadership, the divisions still linger, and yesterday another Phillips supporter, Rosemarie Shaw, gave notice of her intention to resign as constituency caretaker for St Thomas Western.

Shaw, a former Jamaica Labour Party councillor and mayor of Morant Bay, said she would send her letter to the party's secretariat today but would remain a member of the party.

Last night, Evan Reid, vice chairman of Henry-Wilson's St Andrew South Eastern constituency executive, confirmed that some comrades there wanted her removed as the chairperson. However, he made clear that no decision had been taken.

"No decision of any sort has been taken," said Reid. "There are some who are of the view, and this is something that you find happening after every contest of some sort. However, we are still holding the constituency together and we will make a decision if we have to. But nothing of the sort of this kind."

Party insiders said the constituents want the return of former MP Easton Douglas, who, some years ago, opted to leave representational politics.

However, it is not known if he is interested. But sources say if he is not, there "is at least one willing and capable person waiting".

Reid said the executive will be meeting shortly to make plans for that constituency's conference which was not held on the scheduled date because of Simpson Miller's rally held two Sundays ago.