In Brief
- No split in the party: San Fernando East MP Brian Manning has denied rumours of a fracture within the People’s National Movement (PNM), labelling recent internal disputes as a ‘disagreement about process.’
- Executive resignations: The San Fernando East constituency executive has been forced to resign following Manning’s public allegations of corruption and governance issues.
- Moving forward: Manning confirmed he is satisfied with the current process for upcoming internal elections and described his relationship with the PNM executive and Opposition Leader Penelope Beckles as ‘very cordial.’
By Alicia Chamely
“There is no fracture in the People’s National Movement (PNM),” says San Fernando East Member of Parliament Brian Manning, after publicly speaking out on what he described as governance issues within the constituency’s executive.
Speaking with the media while making his way into the Red House, Port of Spain, on Friday, Manning was asked to comment on speculation that there was discord within the PNM.
Manning said, “There is no fracture in the party right now. What you are seeing is a disagreement that has become public. It is really a disagreement about process and what should be done.”
“I had reported certain activities in San Fernando East that I felt needed to be dealt with in a certain manner, and initially it was not going that way, but right now we have cleared a path,” he said.
Manning said, “Right now the executive of San Fernando East that was in question, they have been forced to resign to clear the way for a free and fair election in the constituency.”
Saying he was happy with the process at this point, he added, “We will be monitoring everything that takes place during this process in terms of party groups and also the overall election.”
He warned, however, “If there are any issues, I will be the first to call it out.”
Manning came under fire from members of the PNM for going public with his accusations of corruption against the constituency’s executive.
Asked if he regretted going public, Manning said, “Not at all.”
“If I have to call out corruption in the constituency or party to make for a better People’s National Movement, that’s what I am going to do,” he said.
Manning said, “We cannot win any election if we start looking exactly like the UNC.”
Questioned as to the status of his relationship with members of the PNM Executive, Manning said it was very cordial and noted he had held several meetings with the Opposition Leader, Penelope Beckles, earlier in the week.
Beckles echoed this sentiment when questioned by the media, saying she had met with Manning to address his concerns and plan a way forward.
