Been meaning to raise this topic a while now. The other group does have mih so busy ah keep forgetting but, PNMites let we talk nah.....ah been hearing that things eh looking too bright on that side of the isle. Wha going orn over dey??
http://guardian.co.tt/news/politics/2010/10/24/rowley-faces-opposition-pnmRowley faces opposition in PNM
ANIKA GUMBS-SANDIFORDInternal rumblings within the People’s National Movement (PNM) continue some five months after the political party has been voted out of Government. Unable to put their house in order, the Sunday Guardian was informed that the party’s annual convention to be hosted in November may be postponed to January next year. This comes on the heels of plans to introduce facilitators to constituencies where there are no PNM MPs. A list of the facilitators is expected to be released this week. The significant dwindling of support, according to party sources, has impacted negatively and has resulted in several party groups being unable to meet specific deadlines and requests.
A party source revealed: “We are facing a serious problem getting party groups together. Our support is vanishing overnight. The PNM convention is normally held in November but we are practically scrambling to provide a listing for nomination. We have to deal with poor support and tension in the ranks, so we are looking at mid January for our convention because of all the outstanding issues to be settled.” Supporters, sources said, have become very disinterested. “We have 28 party groups and so far information has not been forthcoming as to when the internal elections will be held.
There is sluggishness in the system right now. Five months after and there has been no change. “Things are being done in haste and we all know hurry birds do not build good nests. The focus should be on looking at how the party operates rather than dealing with the issues as to why we failed,” one source said. “We need to move away from electoral issues because we would not be facing the polls any time soon,” another source lamented. But the unanswered questions on the lips of many is why the PNM cannot seem to reengineer itself even after former political leader, Patrick Manning has bowed out?
Senior members opposing RowleySunday Guardian understands that Dr Keith Rowley’s leadership is being met with “stiff opposition” by some senior members. “The truth and fact is some served with Manning and some would have been selected by him for specific reasons, so there is a trust factor facing the party,” a party source said. “One has to remember Rowley was thrown out of the Cabinet and was in the wilderness for a number of years. He has to earn back that trust and so far he has not done that. Rowley was out of the inner circle and suddenly he is the leader of the party; the person who is being trusted to take the party back in government. While at first for many he was the most ‘popular’ person to take over, many are thinking differently now and are afraid to say anything.”
On the other hand, party insiders revealed that while some members are against some of the decisions being made by Rowley, they are using the opportunity to even their score with Manning. “What we have noticed is several persons Manning rejected are the very same persons meeting with constituents. Do these people really care about the way forward or their own interests? “Many of them have a vendetta against Manning because of the treatment they received,” a party insider said. “It is no secret that Manning heaped scorn on some of his supporters; some for good reason while some of his decisions were made in poor and bad taste based on advice. But when you look at the tension now in the party you wonder if people really want the PNM to return to office,” a concerned party member added.
Manning has opted to stay silent to be free from any blame and to have the last laugh, an insider said. “Manning has remained very silent except for publicly stating that he endorses the new leadership of the party. People must not forget he is an experienced politician. He did not have to call a general election, but as we all know he went against the advice of many because of his arrogance. “He knew the electorate was agitated and decided to throw in his hat wilfully. Quite frankly, he allowed the people to chose without saying anything. Without speaking he said you wanted a coalition government, you wanted Dr Rowley to lead the PNM take him. “But are the supporters happy?” a senior party member added.
East Indian factor crucial
Another crucial factor affecting the party, the Sunday Guardian understands, is that Rowley is failing to woo East Indians to the party. “It has always been a difficult area but we were able to win some support. The odds are now high again given that almost all of our support has shifted to the People’s Partnership. The truth is overall we have a tough struggle on our hands that we may not be conquering any time soon.” Attempts to contact Rowley proved futile up to late yesterday. A message left on his cell phone was also not answered.
