Khan: PNM will beat UNC

Addressing yesterday’s post-PNM General Council news conference at Balisier House, PNM Chairman Franklin Khan said Prime Minister Patrick Manning (while he has not publicly indicated such in recent months) is keeping the option of early general elections in TT on the table, the party is still very much in election mode and Manning reiterated that he does not want the PNM’s foot soldiers to be caught flat-footed when the election date is announced.

Stating that the PNM has been keeping abreast of all developments in the UNC since its October 2 internal elections, Khan said the PNM will convincingly defeat the UNC, regardless of the configuration it takes whenever the elections are called. "We are confident but not cocky. We are confident and we know there is hard work to do on the ground. We are quite confident of an election victory," Khan declared. He explained that as Ortoire/Mayaro MP, he knew this reality more than anyone (because that constituency has been broken up into three constituencies as part of the new 41 constituency configuration in TT proposed by the Elections and Boundaries Commission).

Khan said any leadership issues between Panday and the new UNC political leader were not the PNM’s concern but Government takes the constitutional position of recognising the Leader of the Opposition and a "reasonable Opposition" is important for a healthy democracy to flourish.

From a political perspective, Khan said he had no problem if the UNC "is disintegrating."

Khan declined to comment on the status of investigations by the Integrity Commission into corruption allegations made against him by PNM Councillor Dhansam Dhansook and said only the Commission could clear his name. Khan resigned as works and transport minister on May 8 because of these allegations and former tertiary education minister Colm Imbert assumed that portfolio. Dhansook made similar allegations against Energy Minister Eric Williams but Williams did not resign from the Cabinet. The Integrity Commission is also investigating those allegations as well.

The PNM chairman also said Manning announced that a national social services grid will be established to TT to ensure better delivery of those services to the population and this will not cause a dependency syndrome in TT.

Khan said the Prime Minister also disclosed that the board of directors of the new East Port-of-Spain Development Company (to guide the urban renewal of East PoS and environs) will be announced in two weeks.

Khan said party group and constituency executive elections will be completed in all 41 constituencies (except St Joseph) by the end of October and the posts of political leader, chairman and other senior executive posts will not be up for grabs at the PNM’s Annual Convention on December 3 and 4.

He explained that elections are held for those posts once every five years.