– ‘Go nah’ PNMites tell Manning
(Trinidad Express) – Diego Martin West MP Dr Keith Rowley, on whom the leadership trained its guns for the last two years, was on Thursday embraced by the General Council which asked PNM parliamentarians to indicate to President George Maxwell Richards that they were supporting him for the position of opposition leader.
The General Council on Thursday accepted the resignation of Political Leader Patrick Manning with immediate effect, rejecting his offer to stay on until a replacement was found.
Manning read out his resignation saying he would not seek in any way to influence the choice of political leader and that he had spoken to his San Fernando East constituency and it would not attempt to put obstacles in the way of the political leader.
But after he put the letter down, he said there is a problem. He said the constitution does not provide for the General Council to appoint a political leader other than through a convention and there is a procedure to be followed. He said in the circumstances he was prepared to stay on as political and opposition leader and appoint senators, for that duration, (not saddling the new political leader with his senators). When he said that, the entire General Council hooted: “No! No!”
One former candidate suggested that since the matter under discussion was whether he should continue or not, Manning should leave it for them to discuss the issue. Manning left the meeting. He went downstairs to his car where he encountered a hostile crowd, who shouted “Manning must go!”
However, some of the people in the crowd expressed sorrow that it had come to this–that after 23 years as political leader Manning was virtually chased out by an angry crowd from Balisier House. They pointed out that never in the history of the party did a leader have to leave Balisier House in this unpleasant manner.
Meanwhile, inside the General Council meeting Orville London proposed a motion that the General Council advises the PNM parliamentarians to write to the president informing him that they were supporting Rowley. The motion was accepted.
One person raised the question of Rowley being interim opposition leader. But it was pointed out that the Constitution does not provide for an interim opposition leader because at any time the majority of MPs can in fact advise the President that they wish to support someone else.
At this point the thumbs-up sign given by several General Council members seated close to the window of the conference room at Balisier House said it all. The courtyard of Balisier House, which was filled with people, erupted with applause and celebration. “Rowley! Rowley!” they chanted.
Rowley as he left the meeting, made an announcement to the crowd. “Today the General Council has taken the decision to advise the parliamentarians that I should occupy the position of opposition leader to discharge on behalf of this party the responsibilities under the Constitution. I have accepted that arrangement and I would proceed to do that to the best of my ability,” he said, to tumultuous applause.
The General Council selected June 27 as a date for the convention for the election of a new political leader. In the interim the PNM does not have a political leader. The chairman and all officials would guide the party in matters of a political nature. However, with respect to decisions relating to the Parliament, “Rowley is the person which the General Council recommends be supported for making those decisions,” PNM chairman Conrad Enill stated.
Speaking to the media, Enill said he believed Rowley would get the support of all MPs, including Manning.
He said the General Council agreed that an expression of gratitude for his long-standing service, “bringing the party back from its 33-3 position (in 1986) to today be properly sent to the political leader in recognition of what he has done for the party and the government”. He said Manning would stay on as San Fernando East MP.
Asked what Manning’s mood was like, Enill said if one recognises that he is a human being and he expected to win the election, then, “there has been disappoint
