People’s National Movement (PNM) leader Dr Keith Rowley stood his ground yesterday and refused former leader Patrick Manning’s offer for the two to meet for discussions at Parliament tomorrow. Rowley’s move came after Manning blanked a meeting with the party officials at Balisier House and instead proposed he and Rowley speak on his proposed candidacy for the San Fernando East seat at Parliament. Late yesterday, PNM general secretary Ashton Ford said Rowley had refused the counter offer.
Earlier yesterday, while Rowley appeared to consider Manning’s request at first, after a meeting with his party executives he insisted that party business be discussed at Balisier House. The ball is now back in Manning’s court, as it was he who blanked yesterday’s scheduled 3 pm meeting at Balisier House and counteroffered tomorrow’s meeting.
In a brief telephone interview yesterday, Manning said he had nothing to say about the rescheduled meeting and nothing to say about the proposal for tomorrow’s meeting. “I don’t need to talk with anyone and not the newspapers. I do not wish to hear anything or speak on anything,” Manning said. When asked if he had anything to say about not attending yesterday’s meeting with PNM officials, Manning said he did not know why the media was suddenly “harassing” him on this matter.
“You all have left me alone for five years, please continue to do so,” he said. Ford told the media it was unusual to have a meeting about party business at Parliament, saying he was surprised Manning did not show up for yesterday’s meeting. He added: “He attended meetings here before. Mr Manning came here and met with Dr Rowley before. It is a bit surprising to me.
“This morning (yesterday) Dr Rowley received a reply from Mr Manning indicating that he would meet him instead in Parliament on Friday (tomorrow) and that is different from the arrangement to discuss party business because here is the party headquarters.”
Ford said Manning was not aware of the agenda for the meeting but should have understood that the discussions would be determined by previous correspondence between Manning and Rowley. “It was all surrounding the nomination exercise with regards to San Fernando East,” he said. Ford said the December 15 extension for nominations for that seat remained in effect. He said there was no intention to discipline Manning at yesterday’s meeting and that was made clear to him.
Manning had made Ford’s letter to him public on social media and also used the forum to question if he was being hauled before a PNM disciplinary committee or central executive to be disciplined. “Disciplinary procedures in the party is far different from what Mr Manning described. It is a long drawn out process and an invitation does not signal any sort of action,” Ford said.
No room for Lee Sing, Wells
Meanwhile, the party also yesterday chose incumbent Marlene McDonald over former Port-of-Spain mayor Louis Lee Sing and former PNM councillor Isha Wells for Port-of-Spain South seat in next year’s general election. Colm Imbert was unopposed for his spot as Diego Martin North East MP.
