Jovial mood expected at PNM convention today

High level sources said yesterday that Prime Minister and Political Leader Patrick Manning would be “pelting plenty political stones” today when he addresses the Annual Convention. “He will be in his glory,” said a source close to the Prime Minister.

The PNM’s 38th Annual Convention, which begins today at the Chaguaramas Convention Centre is expected to be a celebration of the party’s return to office, rather than an internal party election. The Annual Convention’s most important task is to select officers of the movement, from Political Leader right down.  But at this convention, unlike the two previous conventions in 1987 and 1996 where a strong battle was waged for positions in the party, the internal election is not expected to be the most significant element at this two-day meeting. Virtually everyone is expecting a landslide victory for the team supported by Political Leader Patrick Manning, who after two electoral victories - General and Local Government - is well entrenched. The most important person on Manning’s team is Franklyn Khan, who is contesting the position of chairman against Hugh Francis and Harvey Borris. Yesterday sources stated that no one was coming to “rock the boat” or create divisions within the party. Instead, the party is expected to coalesce around the leader, giving him all the support he needs to continue the task of building the party and broadening its base.

Manning’s address will be delivered this afternoon at 3.35 pm, lasting until 5.05. It will be one of the highlights of the convention and it will be followed by a “get-together in the open air” which would last until midnight. In keeping with the mood of celebration, there will be a lot of entertainment. The convention then adjourns for the party until midnight. Ambassador Jerry Narace who is handling the arrangements said “back in times music” would dominate the top floor while the “soca jam” would be on the ground level of the Convention Centre. Asked about the election, Narace, who is in the race for PRO, would only say “there is no battle.” He categorically denied reports that persons were being intimidated, stressing that all candidates and delegates were free in engage in the electoral process in any manner that they wished. This is the first time since 1999 that the PNM is hosting an Annual Convention. Between 1999 and now,  the party held (General) Election Conventions, which saw it concentrating its energies in electioneering.