PNMite Barry Garcia has accused PNM leader Keith Rowley of being hypocritical and deceitful in his recent praise for former PNM leader and prime minister Patrick Manning. Garcia commented on the issue yesterday on Radio 91.1 and also spoke to the media after a dinner last weekend at which Rowley praised his former leader.
Rowley was critical of the party while it was in government after Manning fired him from Cabinet in 2008 for “wajang” behaviour and Rowley was demoted to the Parliament backbench. Yesterday, Garcia, a member of the Preserve the Balisier Group which oposed Rowley in the May internal party poll, said Rowley’s praise couldn’t erase the fact that his issues with the PNM between 2008 and 2010 had contributed to the party’s failure in the 2010 general election.
He said Rowley’s statements helped to weaken the PNM at that time and praising Manning now had not changed the record. Garcia, a southern PNM member, was in Parliament yesterday, as was Manning.
