Weather keeps PNMites home

Prime Minister Patrick Manning’s speech enlivened yesterday’s PNM Annual Convention, but somehow the event seemed lacking in both quantity and quality compared to past conventions. There did not seem to be an excited frenzy of people bustling into the Chaguaramas Convention Centre, no congestion of maxi-taxis off-loading delegates from every corner of this country. And in contrast to past conventions where an overspill of guests had to be seated on the first floor downstairs from the main event, this year the convention hall although almost full was certainly not packed out to excess.

One party official blamed the turnout on the day’s bad weather. On the ground floor where guests registered there was an atmosphere of casual officialdom. Despite the fact that party elections were due to be held the next day on the second day of the Convention, there did not seem to be any great sense of urgency yesterday, except for one candidate for public relations officer standing on the stairs to greet guests while his colleagues on the ground-floor handed out his campaign leaflets. Official proceedings began half-hour late with the vice chairman’s address, followed by the presentation of party reports by general secretary, Martin Joseph, and the political leader’s address by Manning. Meanwhile PNM officials denied any intimidation of any party candidates had occurred as claimed in an anonymous paid announcement in Friday’s press. Donaldson said he had not seen the advertisement. Saying all PNM internal elections since 1956 had been free and fair, he said any view to the contrary was “uninformed and malicious.” Grinning broadly, Jerry Narace, told Sunday Newsday: “Do you see anyone here looking intimidated?.”