The stand-off in People’s National Movement’s San Fernando East constituency has deepened after PNM general secretary Ashton Ford officially informed the unit yesterday that it has until December 22 to submit nominations for candidacy. This despite an appeal by the unit and MP Patrick Manning to extend the deadline to January 2.
After Ford’s letter was received yesterday, San Fernando East PRO Anthony Clarke said the unit had, in a letter to the party last Friday, pointed out that its San Fernando office would be closed from December 19 and thus unable to conduct business until January 2 when it reopened. Clarke said that was still the position up to yesterday and the unit was still hoping for a change of the December 22 deadline.
Ford, however, said he sent written notification yesterday to the unit about the December 22 deadline. He said the date was announced by PNM leader Dr Keith Rowley at last Saturday’s General Council and San Fernando East was present. Asked about the letter seeking the deferral sent by the constituency, Ford said if the San Fernando East unit wanted to release the letter to the T&T Guardian they could do so but he declined details
But Ford’s letter underscored the PNM leadership’s move to ignore the December 5 request by Manning for extension of the deadline to January 3. Following two failed attempts at meetings on the nomination issue recently, Manning wrote Rowley last Friday confirming he had said if his health allowed and if it was the will of the constituency, he would be prepared to consider a nomination after consideration of all other pertinent factors.
But Manning stressed, “It is not, and ought not to be interpreted, that I have made any decision to make myself available to contest.” He said he was going to seek an assessment of his health from doctors in Cuba and the US and would advise constituents on January 2 whether he could contest. If he could not, Manning said he would recommend someone. Manning suggested nominations follow during January 3-15 and screening immediately after.
After Ford said he had written the unit about the December 22 deadline, San Fernando East PRO Clarke subsequently confirmed the constituency office had received the letter. Clarke, however, said the unit’s office closes on December 19 for Christmas and no one would be available to conduct business until the January 2 reopening. He said all of that was pointed out in a letter sent to Balisier House last Friday.
“That’s why we proposed the deadline be extended to January 3 but our letter was sent late Friday and it’s uncertain that it was received in time to be considered before the General Council announcement about the December 22 deadline the day after. “They might have only read our letter today (yesterday) after sending their letter. So we’re still hoping for a change of that deadline,” Clarke said.
Reasonable request:
Clarke added: “At last Thursday’s meeting, we sought clarification of his health status and last Friday he communicated all of that via letter to the leader. “Our MP has had medical challenges but made remarkable improvement. We have to give him the respect due to get his medical advice before we reply to the leadership on nominations. After 43 years of service, one just can’t dismiss things. We must give him due process.”
He also said the unit was not seeking any confrontation with the central executive on the issue. He added: “We don’t see this as a confrontation or that two more weeks after December 22 will make a big difference to submit nominations. “After December 22 we have Christmas, Boxing Day and Old and New Year’s days. Will nominations be scrutinised on those days?
“Our office reopens January 2 and the MP meets with us January 3. Based on the holidays between December 22 and start of the year, we’re only seeking a couple days more, not extension to April or May. It’s reasonable given the holidays. Government has also said election isn’t near.” Manning didn’t answer calls yesterday.
No nominees in mind:
Clarke added that San Fernando East had no nominees in mind and would not make any decision until it received word from Manning on his position. He said the situation that has caused Manning’s recent actions didn’t emanate from the MP but resulted from a written mandate from PNM’s central executive last month to prepare nominations, initially for the first week of December.
Clarke explained: “Resulting from central executive’s instructions we had two special meetings and our executive, at the most recent last Thursday, asked Mr Manning to seek medical advice if he’s medically fit to be nominated for screening. “It was on that basis he accelerated plans to get advice in Cuba and the US and report to us on January 2,” Clarke said. “People may think Mr Manning is doing all this but he’s not acting on his own.
“He’s writing the leader based on our requests to him, the outcome of our meetings and the central executive’s mandate to us. Also, prior to the central executive mandate, Dr Rowley had spoken to Mr Manning about the issue on November 7.”