PNM holds Convention in October

PRIME Minister Patrick Manning yesterday announced that another election is due before the end of the year.

However, this one strictly involves the People’s National Movement (PNM). The party will hold its annual Convention on October 25 and 26 where all offices within the party, including that of Political Leader will be contested. Manning made the disclosure yesterday following the party’s General Council meeting at Balisier House. He said as a result of the upcoming Convention, the party will move into election mode with immediate effect. This means the various party and constituency groups are to get their house in order for elections. He said the General Council has also agreed on certain methods to be adopted in the context of the Morean report, to ensure the elections are free and fair.

The PNM’s Vice Chairman, John Donaldson, explained that in essence the party agreed with the findings of the Morean Committee and as far as possible will seek to implement all the recommendations and to have them incorporated into the party’s constitution for future elections. He said the main recommendation was that the party change its constitution for the establishment of an Election Committee. He said since there are now no provisions within its Constitution for such a committee, a group of people will be selected by the Council to do the work of such a committee, that is to monitor the elections, until the Constitution is changed. The Morean Report came out of a Committee set up by the party, chaired by Glenda Morean, to examine the party’s election process to ensure it was free and fair.

On another note, Manning said the PNM was very pleased with its victory at last Monday’s Local Government Election and as such would host a rally and thanksgiving next Saturday. The rally will commence at various locations throughout the country at different times and culminate at Mayaro. He said it was now a challenge on how the party proceeded in ensuring that the balance in society is reflected within the party. Manning said he was pleased that people who did not traditionally support the PNM had now given “us a second look and we hope to justify that confidence they have placed in the party.” He said the Council also discussed Caribbean Integration and was brought up to date on some aspects of the recent Caricom Heads of Government meeting in Jamaica.