Senior Political Reporter
The remaining members of the People’s National Movement’s (PNM) San Fernando East (SFE) constituency executive, including chairman Patricia Alexis, resigned yesterday amid the impasse between MP Brian Manning and Alexis.
The resignation was announced in a statement signed by Alexis on behalf of the executive and came following a meeting with the party’s leadership on Sunday. Four members had already resigned between Friday and Saturday.
The executive met on Sunday with PNM leader Pennelope Beckles, chairman Marvin Gonzales and general secretary Foster Cummings. More than 20 executive members attended the meeting.
Discussions focused on ongoing issues within the constituency and the report arising from an inquiry commissioned by the party’s general council into matters involving Manning and Alexis.
The inquiry stemmed from concerns raised by SFE members to Manning regarding constituency issues, including party group verification and concerns about Alexis. Manning relayed those concerns to the party leadership but later expressed reservations about aspects of the process used to investigate the matter.
Manning was invited to Sunday’s meeting but did not attend.
Speaking at the PNM’s media briefing yesterday, Senator Dr Amery Browne said Beckles had unsuccessfully attempted to contact Manning during the meeting and encourage him to attend.
In its statement, the SFE executive said following discussions with the leadership, members decided, “in the best interest of the party and for the continued orderly functioning of the constituency, to resign effective 4 pm” yesterday.
The statement added that Alexis and the executive believed their decision would allow the party’s leadership and national executive to implement appropriate interim arrangements, supervise party group elections and facilitate the democratic election of a new constituency executive.
“The outgoing executive will cooperate fully with this transition and with the verification exercise arising from the recommendations of the inquiry, including making available all documents and information required,” the statement said.
Alexis indicated that while individual members of the outgoing executive would decide whether to seek positions on the new executive, she would not be seeking re-election.
PNM chairman Gonzales said many executive members complained that they had received calls and threats urging them to resign, and their families were unwilling to continue operating in what they perceived to be a hostile environment.
“We observed that the situation is taking a toll on them. I felt their pain and disappointment,” Gonzales said.
Noting the executive members’ long service to the constituency, the statement stressed that their resignation should not be interpreted as an abandonment of either the party or the constituency.
“It is a deliberate decision to facilitate the orderly reconstitution of the constituency and, ultimately, to allow the membership to determine its leadership through the party’s democratic processes,” it stated.
Reaffirming support for the party’s leadership, the executive added: “At this point, the interests of SFE and the wider party are best served by allowing the party’s processes to proceed and the membership to have its say.”
Gonzales said following the resignations, it was the responsibility of the party’s leadership to ensure an interim team is put in place until constituency elections are held and a new executive is elected to manage the constituency and support the MP.
Asked about former MP Hazel Manning’s reported intention to contest the SFE chairmanship, Gonzales said she is a member of the party and, like any other member, is free to participate in the internal democratic process.
“We’ll see where that goes, but that’s a matter for SFE members,” he said.
The party leadership meets with party groups today, and PNM deputy leader Sanjiv Boodhu said the verification of party groups ahead of executive elections is expected to be completed by Friday.
Addressing one of the concerns raised by Manning regarding Alexis holding multiple party positions while serving as SFE chairman, the executive said the PNM constitution does not prohibit constituency officers from also serving in the party’s national structures.
“Service at party-group, constituency and national levels has long formed part of the tradition and progression of service within the party,” the statement said.
