Senior Reporter
People’s National Movement (PNM) chairman Marvin Gonzales says he will personally reach out to party stalwart Ashton Ford, after the veteran member publicly raised concerns about the Opposition’s internal affairs, saying the issues present an opportunity for dialogue rather than division.
Speaking with Guardian Media outside Balisier House, Port-of-Spain, yesterday, where members gathered for an interfaith service, Gonzales declined to say whether Ford’s claims were true but acknowledged they reflected concerns that deserved to be heard.
Gonzales said, “Perhaps it presents an opportunity for the leadership of the party to meet with Mr Ford to have those matters ventilated and perhaps resolved. So, I don’t see those things in a really negative way quite frankly. I think it helps the democratic process. It helps leadership when members express serious concerns about matters within the party and they ought not to be discouraged.”
Ford issued a lengthy public statement outlining what he described as growing dissatisfaction among members over the conduct of the executive and general council.
Among the many concerns raised by Ford were allegations that general secretary Foster Cummings has failed to present members’ correspondence to the general council, questions surrounding the appointment of a committee to investigate complaints involving San Fernando East MP Brian Manning and assistant general secretary Patricia Alexis, claims of inconsistent disciplinary standards involving Arima Mayor Balliram Maharaj, criticism over how former senator Janelle John-Bates was treated following the parliamentary committee controversy, and what he described as an increasingly “authoritarian approach” by the party’s leader Pennelope Beckles and Cummings.
Rather than dismissing the concerns, Gonzales said they should be viewed as part of a healthy democratic process, although he admitted he would have preferred if those concerns were raised privately.
He added, “When persons take to social media, or rather decide to ventilate those matters in the public, then it perhaps suggests that we may not be doing enough to meet with them in private and it’s an opportunity for us as an executive and as a leadership to now create a platform to meet with some of those persons who may have concerns about ways in which the party is being managed.”
Describing Ford as someone who has always acted in the party’s best interests, Gonzales said he intends to contact him personally.
“I don’t think anyone can suggest that he does not have the best interests of the party at heart. As a long-standing, experienced member of the party, I think we should meet with him and have open dialogue with respect to the concerns that he raised.”
Gonzales also sought to reassure supporters amid speculation that the public criticism reflected deeper divisions within the Opposition.
Gonzales said, “I want to tell the supporters, do not be dismayed. Do not be worried, or overly worried, about the perception of disunity within the party.”
He said PNM parliamentarians recently held a retreat to reflect on the party’s performance following last year’s general election defeat and discuss the Opposition’s future direction.
Gonzales added, “It was a very productive exercise. As the chairman of the party, we emerged from the retreat a far stronger team than when we entered into that retreat.”
He added that the leadership remained committed to strengthening and preserving the PNM.
Gonzales also dismissed suggestions of any rift with former prime minister Stuart Young and Beckles, confirming Young attended the parliamentary retreat and participated fully.
He added, “I have a very good relationship with Mr Young. I could only learn from Mr Young… My relationship with Mr Young, quite honestly, cannot be better than how it is right now.”
He also rejected suggestions of competing “Team Penny” and “Team Stuart” factions, saying differences of opinion over leadership are common in politics but insisting his own focus remains on rebuilding the party.
