PNM continues to be red and ready

This year has seen the continuing of a commitment to the 60-year-old traditions started by the party’s founder, Dr Eric Williams.

The PNM has successfully held party group elections across the country which allow for the natural purging of non-functioning office holders, renewing of mandates for performers and new mandates for vacancies in the party groups.

This mobilisation strategy is what keeps the blood in the PNM pumping. The mobilisation takes place from the ground up and keeps the party in election mode. The democratic process of these elections across the country in every constituency, whether held by a PNM Member of Parliament or not, keeps the “big machine” oiled.

Party groups are like cells functioning in every constituency.

Every member of the PNM belongs to a party group and is eligible to go from the party group executive level to the constituency executive level and to the national level as a general council member or a member of the national executive.

The structure of the party and the processes create a formula which builds a large cadre of politicians. The ability to hold office in the PNM at a party group level or a national level depends on a member’s level of influence and political acumen.

All these internal elections in the PNM ensure that the party is never short on candidates for screening.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley will soon announce the dates for the local government election and the Tobago House of Assembly election, which are both approaching back to back. Balisier House has completed screening and readied the PNM for the local government election and the Tobago council will carry out its arm of the process to keep the red ready.

The PNM’s rich history has created a machine that is far more advanced, organised, structured and experienced than any of its opponents on the national or regional landscape. This institutional strength keeps the PNM relevant and functional.

It would take decades for any other political organisation to build a similar machine and therefore the PNM remains red and ready for the upcoming elections.

RONALD HUGGINS St Joseph
Editor’s Note: Dr Rowley last Thursday announced November 28 as the date for the local government election.