Jearlean John to PNM members: Who is your leader?

Senior Reporter

akash.samaroo@cnc3.co.tt

A back-and-forth over the future leadership of the People’s National Movement (PNM) found its way to the Upper House yesterday, with the Opposition calling on the Government to explain its succession planning to the public. It began when Government Senator Randall Mitchell responded to Opposition Senator Wade Mark’s assertion on Monday afternoon that there is bacchanal in the Balisier and that a “house divided” cannot stand.

Mitchell told the Opposition to mind their business.

“Cockroach have no place in fowl business,” Mitchell declared to tumultuous support from his Government colleagues.

Mitchell said it was ironic that Mark would speak about division when in the Lower House, the United National Congress (UNC) has five MPs who have been exiled from the party.

However, Senator Jearlean John reminded Mitchell that the PNM’s business is the people’s business. “This is not any cockroach in fowl business or fowl in cockroach business, you know; this is our business because the people who are talking are members of the PNM, who are members of the Government, so this is our business,” she argued.

John said she was merely echoing questions that the PNM’s own general secretary has for his political leader.

“So I have to ask this morning, who is your leader? We know who is our leader. You can say what you want about her, but we know,” John said as the Opposition senators thumped their desks in approval.

“The last time I checked, T&T is a democracy, and you can’t hand over the Office of the Prime Minister as if you are the queen.”

John said when the UNC had its internal elections controversy, PNM members jeered at them, which forced some to commit what she described as “political suicide.”

She also said it was interesting that a party known for being tight-lipped on its internal affairs is now breaking that tradition. John strongly believes it has to do with a resistance to Stuart Young, whom she described as belonging to the “elite” class.

“I think they are saying in the papers that they are trying to keep out a certain person. There’s a level of dissonance and anger because people are resistant to this ready-made successor. Ready-made!

“The PNM is behaving like this is a two-piece and fries,” she said to the Opposition’s amusement.

“All the time they had nothing to say, but today every one of them talking out, they are climbing over each other, fighting each other to get into the media to put their business out in the road,” she added.

But in his maiden contribution to a Senate debate, newly minted Government Senator Ancil Dennis proudly declared there is no confusion over who is in charge of the PNM.

“We know clearly who is our leader, who is our Prime Minister, Dr Keith Christopher Rowley! More importantly, you have to know the attributes of your leader. Our leader is a man of integrity, character, and an impeccable track record in the politics of Trinidad and Tobago. A man who has demonstrated courage and, of course, a man who has been sober at all times,” Dennis said.

Dennis sought to assure the public that there is no bacchanal in the PNM or the Government.

On Monday, the Prime Minister appointed Young to act as Prime Minister for the third time, even after Young was admonished by the House Speaker for his conduct in the Lower House and was forced to apologise.

Several names are speculated to be potential successors to Dr Keith Rowley, including Young, Foster Cummings, Amery Browne and Pennelope Beckles. There are rumours that there is internal discord over what some see as Dr Rowley’s attempt to position Young as the only contender for that position. Elections for the political leader post are due in 2026.

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