PNM feeling good at 48

THE People’s National Movement (PNM) will celebrate its 48th birthday with two major rallies in Port-of-Spain on Saturday January 24 (the date the party was founded in 1956 by Trinidad and Tobago’s first Prime Minister Dr Eric Williams). This was the announcement made by party vice-chairman John Donaldson at yesterday’s PNM-post General Council news conference at Balisier House.

“We have described this rally as a ‘feel good’ rally for the PNM. We will demonstrate we are PNM and proud. It will give us an opportunity throughout the national population to showcase what we have achieved as a party since 1956 and what we have been able to achieve as a party in government for most of that period,” he stated. Donaldson said simultaneous celebrations will be held on Saturday at the St John’s Ambulance Brigade headquarters and the Lions Civic Centre with a subsequent special 48th anniversary celebration carded for Tobago.

The PNM vice-chairman explained that the party also discussed “methodologies of a smooth introduction into the party of the 11,002 who became new party members after our August-September drive.” During that period last year, Prime Minister Patrick Manning said a large proportion of new party members came from Central Trinidad and other areas which traditionally did not politically favour the PNM. Manning linked this increase in membership to the PNM’s victory in the July 14 Local Government Elections which saw the ruling party make inroads into several traditional UNC strongholds.