PNM
The general council of the People’s National Movement has approved the selection of a new date for the party’s annual convention and internal elections. However, that date is yet to be revealed.
But party officials say when the elections are held, it will not see anyone contesting the post of political leader since election for that position is not due until 2026.
PNM’s General Secretary, Foster Cummings explained during a news conference after the council met, that the motion was approved according to the party’s constitution for a new date to be considered.
“Our party’s constitution gives the political leader the authority in respect of the political direction of the party and the leadership in support of that requirement. The general council today ratified the decision by the party’s leadership to set a new date for the party’s convention.”
While a new date for the party’s internal election is yet to be announced, party Chairman Stuart Young was asked what led to its sudden cancellation which sparked speculations of an early general election.
“The People’s National Movement is a movement that is a very strategic movement, it is a movement that does not do things because you wake up in the morning and you just take a decision. So on this occasion the general council has saw it fit to trust the leadership decision that was taken and we just put it like that for now.
“So I’m not in a position nor am I ever going to give out the PNM’s strategy and why we are doing things,” he said.
Speculation has been rife about the future of the party’s leadership following Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s hint of retirement. During the budget debate in Parliament, Rowley suggested that he could be bowing out of politics.
“It was a pleasure working with you as parliamentary Speaker. I don’t know how much longer I would have in this Parliament. But I have done my duty, and I kept the course. I have run the race, and I look forward not for a pot of gold but for my family at the end of this rainbow,” he said during the debate on October 10.
But Young explained that the position of political leader is not among those up for grabs in the party’s internal elections.
“The internal elections, there seems to be some confusion over it including by persons who are members of the party. There were positions that were not due for re-election and are due for election in 2026, the political leader, the chairman and the general secretary. There was an opening for the vice chair and all of the rest, in accordance to our constitution, would have expired. But our constitution provides for how we deal with that,” Young explained.
During the news conference, it was also announced that nominations for 15 additional constituencies ahead of the general election will commence from tomorrow, Monday.