Akash Samaroo
The People’s National Movement (PNM) says it has begun implementing recommendations from an internal inquiry into the dispute within its San Fernando East constituency, as the party seeks to contain growing tensions between MP Brian Manning and constituency chairman Patricia Alexis.
PNM chairman Marvin Gonzales yesterday revealed that the party’s General Council appointed an inquiry team last month after receiving separate correspondence from Manning and Alexis raising concerns about matters within the constituency.
According to Gonzales, the team was given approved Terms of Reference and subsequently met with both Manning and Alexis, as well as witnesses representing both sides.
The team has since completed its investigation and submitted a comprehensive report containing findings and recommendations to the party.
Gonzales said the report was considered by the PNM’s leadership, Central Executive and General Council and that action is now being taken on its recommendations.
“The Leadership and General Council will continue to work with Mr Manning, Mrs Alexis and the members of the San Fernando East Constituency towards a resolution,” Gonzales said.
However, he did not disclose the inquiry’s findings, its recommendations or what specific action has so far been taken.
The statement comes after Manning publicly called on the party’s leadership to intervene over what he described as governance concerns within the San Fernando East executive. Manning said he had raised concerns in writing with the General Council and wanted greater transparency and independent oversight in addressing them.
The dispute escalated after Manning said a message he posted in a San Fernando East group chat was deleted and he was subsequently removed from the group. He also raised concerns about Alexis holding several senior positions within the PNM and questioned whether constituency matters could be independently considered at the national level. Manning stressed, however, that he was not accusing Alexis or anyone else of wrongdoing.
Gonzales has now urged members to allow the party’s internal mechanisms to work, warning that publicly trading allegations could make resolving the dispute more difficult.
“Public exchanges of allegations and counter-allegations will not resolve the issues confronting the San Fernando East Constituency,” he said.
“They risk prejudicing the process, damaging individual reputations and undermining the very institutions upon which all members must ultimately rely.”
Gonzales said differences between parliamentary representatives and constituency executives were not unprecedented within the PNM, particularly around the period of internal constituency elections.
He said members were expected to respect the party’s constitution and avoid publicly ventilating matters that were properly before the General Council.
The PNM chairman said the party would not publicly adjudicate allegations against individual members while its efforts to resolve the dispute remained ongoing.
He maintained that the process would be guided by due process, natural justice, fairness and procedural propriety.
Gonzales also sought to reinforce the authority of the party’s internal structures, saying the PNM had endured for 70 years because members recognised that the organisation was larger than individual disagreements.
“There will be disagreements and strongly held views but we have a responsibility to resolve those differences with fairness, discipline and respect for each other and for the Party we are privileged to serve,” he said.
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