Former PNM minister Hazel Manning’s decision to enter the political fray at this time and seek the San Fernando East chairmanship is strategic and well timed, and demonstrates the driven stability she represented as a minister and alongside her late husband, former prime minister Patrick Manning, political analyst Dr Shane Mohammed has said.
Commenting on developments in the PNM’s San Fernando East constituency, Mohammed said he had suggested following the 2025 general election that the party should confront its issues head-on, unravel complications and rebuild.
“They ignored the suggestion. Fifteen months later, the PNM’s still struggling to find its footing. It’s a phenomenon that’s rare for PNM. It’s what happens when a party discards its institutional human resource capacity: the neophytes that entered politics in 2015 enjoyed first and, in some instances, second opportunity in a playground called government,” Mohammed said.
“Their inexperience left PNM membership in the dust, disregarded institutional members and still do today. That’s why it’s become messy—the PNM’s split, even after electing a new leader. But some jostling for power within now—after the fact—weren’t confident to face PNM’s membership but are brazen to fight for illegitimate power against their own. More or less what they did to each other in Government.”
Mohammed added: “Entering the mix now is a ‘silent authority’ in the person of Hazel Manning, viewed as a driving force behind her husband, the late former PM Manning. Ask anyone who worked in Education and Local Government during her tenure and they will attest to her excellence, grace, humility and driven stability.”
“Her statement is right. San Fernando East is a symbolic seat for several reasons—over four decades it was the pride of the PNM. The bacchanal that’s ensued now is unbecoming.”
Mohammed believes some PNM member may have whispered to San Fernando Deputy Mayor Patricia Alexis, who is the San Fernando East chair, that she could become the constituency’s MP.
“And her ill-timed hubris has caused more damage within the party. The San Fernando Corporation is a contentious municipality in Local Government elections. It would be a heavy burden for Ms Alexis to carry if she becomes a contributing factor to the mayoralty and council switching to the UNC. There’s already a very slim margin between UNC and PNM electoral districts.”
“As for PNM leadership, knowing when to make a decision and how long is too long is a critical characteristic of leadership. There will be times in leadership when one simply needs to understand the environment, the characters and motivation to be able to strategically position themselves.”
Political analyst Dr Bishnu Ragoonath said it was Manning’s right to seek the San Fernando East chairmanship if she wished.
“Does it mean she’s ensuring the Manning dynasty in SFE continues? Is that the be-all and end-all of it?” he asked.
“I don’t know the inner story on San Fernando East but clearly, from reports, they’ll be having constituency elections. So we’ll see how it plays out.”
He added: “The bigger problem for the PNM, however, is the imploding of the San Fernando East executive, with resignations being submitted. PNM’s national executive should have taken charge of the issues there sometime aback and at least put in a caretaker team. But they’ve allowed this to play out this way.”
“It has looked bad for the party and leadership after the PNM chairman wasn’t heeded when he called for public utterances to cease. Both MP Brian Manning and the executive, which is reportedly led by Ms Patricia Alexis, issued statements, and now there are reports that some executive members resigned as they were unaware of their own executive’s statement.”
