Sando East PNMites to sit out internal election
By Ria Taitt Political Editor
Story Created: Mar 18, 2011 at 10:43 PM ECT
(Story Updated: Mar 18, 2011 at 10:43 PM ECT )
Candidate for the chairmanship in the PNM's internal election, Franklin Khan, says it is unfortunate that the San Fernando East delegates will not be voting in tomorrow's election.
Khan's comment came even as chairman of the San Fernando East constituency, Tina Gronlund-Nunez, confirmed that former PM Patrick Manning had advised San Fernando East delegates that they should sacrifice their votes and abstain in the election, because he did not want to be accused of interfering with the future of the party and of helping to choose the new political leader's executive.
Gronlund-Nunez said Manning told delegates to let the other 40 constituencies decide on the executive.
Asked to comment yesterday, Khan said all delegates should be allowed to participate in the democracy of the party, particularly since three of the positions being voted for — the chairman, vice chairman and general secretary — are five-year positions.
"These would be the officers who are taking us into the next general election," he said.
He said if the elections only involved posts which the persons were holding for one year, one could understand people saying 'take some time to let issues clear'.
"But this (election) is so important because it is five-year positions and I think it is an abdication of their responsibility to influence the election in whatever fashion they want to," Khan said.
Repeated attempts to contact Pennelope Beckles-Robinson, the candidate going up against Khan, were unsuccessful.
