Issues within the Opposition People’s National Movement’s (PNM) San Fernando East constituency appear to be nearing resolution, with party groups set to begin internal elections on Sunday, ahead of the election of a new constituency executive on October 15.
PNM Elections Officer Indar Parasram, who heads the team overseeing the San Fernando East internal elections, said yesterday that stakeholders reached a consensus during a meeting on Monday.
“We had a very cordial meeting with all of the party group chairmen and secretaries, San Fernando East MP Brian Manning, and other constituency stakeholders, with a unanimous position by all towards resolving the issues,” Parasram told the T&T Guardian yesterday.
“As far as I’m concerned, that is the end of the internal issues in San Fernando East. Those matters have come to an end,” he added.
Parasram’s comments come after months of internal disputes within the constituency.
In June, former constituency chairman Patricia Alexis wrote to the party’s leadership raising concerns about Manning’s activities in the constituency, including allegations that parallel structures were being established. Manning, in turn, submitted complaints on behalf of members regarding Alexis’ alleged handling of constituency matters.
A team led by deputy leader Jennifer Baptiste-Primus was appointed to investigate both complaints, while another headed by Ernest Esdelle conducted a verification exercise of party groups after Manning alleged that the Alexis-led executive had removed longstanding groups and replaced them with new ones.
The reports from both committees were largely unfavourable to Manning’s position. Thirty party groups were deemed valid, while 15 were excluded from the process.
PNM general secretary Foster Cummings subsequently announced a supervisory team for the constituency elections headed by Parasram and comprising party officials Sharon Felix, Curtis Shade, Maxine Richards and Alisha Romano.
The PNM’s General Council last Friday approved the start of party group elections in San Fernando East from September 4, with the process to conclude by October 10. However, following Monday’s discussions, the timetable was adjusted.
Explaining the outcome of Monday’s meeting, Parasram, a member of the PNM’s National Executive, said all parties were focused on moving forward.
“It was an exceedingly cordial meeting. Everyone, including Mr Manning, was on the same page. The PNM is doing its work, and we go forward from here,” he said.
The party groups requested the constitutionally required seven days’ notice before holding elections. As a result, it was agreed that elections would begin on Sunday rather than last Friday as originally scheduled.
The constituency’s Women’s League and Youth League elections are set for October 3, while the process will culminate in the election of a new constituency executive on October 15, five days after the deadline initially approved by the General Council.
Manning, who said he had not received copies of the reports, rejected the findings communicated to him and questioned the legitimacy of the investigative teams, arguing that such bodies are not provided for under the party’s constitution. He also challenged the exclusion of certain party groups, contending that the verification process was flawed and breached principles of natural justice.
He had called for details regarding the omitted groups and suggested either postponing the elections until outstanding issues were resolved or placing the process under the supervision of an independent body.
However, Manning told the Guardian on Tuesday that the issues were being addressed internally, a position he maintained yesterday.
Among those expected to contest is Hazel Manning, widow of former Prime Minister and longtime San Fernando East MP Patrick Manning, who has indicated her willingness to seek the post of constituency chairman.
San Fernando East is the final PNM constituency yet to complete its internal elections, a process required ahead of the party’s convention in November.
Senior party officials also told the T&T Guardian that the matter is being resolved internally and that party group elections will commence shortly.
Meanwhile, after PNM member Antonio Ross accused Manning on Facebook of being “economical with the truth” in a recent post, Manning reiterated that the party’s issues are being handled internally. He added that he had explained the circumstances and apologised to those offended by the incident, describing it as an unfortunate situation that was “not who we are.”
