Valley: No PNM rift over NFM chairman

PEOPLE’S NATIONAL MOVEMENT (PNM) Deputy Political Leader Ken Valley said newspaper reports alleging a “widening rift” in the ruling party over the selection of a new chairman at National Flour Mills (NFM) were totally erroneous and misguided. According to Valley, there are no divisions within the PNM on that or any other score and the party remains confident of an outright victory in the upcoming Local Government Elections.

A report yesterday claimed the imminent appointment of NFM chairman Christine Sahadeo as a Junior Finance Minister and the selection of her replacement was causing waves within the PNM. However Valley told Newsday there was no truth to the report and someone was just out “to make mischief” and mislead the population. Recalling statements he made last week regarding the salary paid to Petrotrin Executive Chairman Malcolm Jones, the Trade Minister said people were taking that “one comment” way out of context and trying to put their own spin on it. He added there was no rift within the PNM on this or any other matter.

Valley described his relationship with Sahadeo as “an excellent one” and brushed aside suggestions that  her appointment to the Finance Ministry was intended as a snub to him. The Minister also noted that Sahadeo’s husband heads the Business Development Company which also falls under his portfolio and they too share a good working relationship. The Opposition United National Congress (UNC) has called on Sahadeo to publicly state her compensation package as NFM chairman before she joins the Government. Speaking at last Thursday’s post-Cabinet news conference, Prime Minister Patrick Manning side-stepped the question of Sahadeo’s ministerial appointment.