There it goes. 2014 added to T&T's political history in a variety of developments, good, bad and blah as the year before general elections rolled away. Taking some with it.Murder remained consistently high and political opponents also began sharpening up for the "kill" in 2015:
JANUARY–Former PNM leader Patrick Manning back in Parliament after l-o-n-g sick leave since 2012; in the same period, PNM's Penny Beckles signals that current leader Keith Rowley will have to fight a woman (in upcoming PNM leadership polls). Among the greats to exit in 2014, T&T's doyenne of journalism and female pioneer EIC, Therese Mills, legal luminary Karl Hudson Phillips, and TTT's gregarious "Ram."
FEBRUARY–In Highway Reroute Movement's early days of acting up, PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar and mas maven Peter Minshall pose side by side for pix celebrating The Mighty Sparrow, and the PM gives Minsh the deed to his Federation Park home. Almost nine months later Minsh and the HRM trash KPB on the Point Fortin highway project.
MARCH–Verna St Rose Greaves makes a spectacle herself–faux nude suit and all–in trying to make one of the PM (following the death of baby Cottle). PNM's Marlene McDonald throws full weight of attack on Penny Beckles in PNM campaigning. Penny hits "dirty" PNM campaign. Her brother is later held on an arms and ammo charge.
Former president ANR Robinson enters St Clair Medical centre–for the last time. PP's Glenn Ramadharsingh's wings clipped by PM after a Caribbean Airlines complaint (still before the DPP). Woman trouble for Chandresh Sharma also when former flame accuses him of fisticuffs.
APRIL–Sharma resigns before being axed (later cleared). ANR Robinson dies. Penny and PNM's election team wrangle over issues. Solicitor General Eleanor Donaldson Honeywell resigns from the AG's office and "Prisongate"–still wide open–is born.
MAY–Robinson gets a hero's sendoff. But T&T is stunned to a standstill by the assassination of special prosecutor Dana Seetahal in a thoroughly planned and executed "hit" which top US officials says was done by a transnational drug gang–for which no one has been held or arrested yet.
Rowley beats Penny pretty badly (numerically speaking). PP's Anil Roberts hits the spotlight following emergence of a "ganja " video. His boss removes the LifeSport programme from his portfolio following allegations about criminal element infiltration.
JUNE–LifeSport (and not Anil) gets suspended pending audit. Anil and the COP clash on the video. COP's also busy preparing for a four-way leadership fight among incumbent Prakash Ramadhar, chairman Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan, MP Lincoln Douglas–and Rufus Foster. Ramadhar wins despite former leader Winston Dookeran backing Bachan.
JULY–LifeSport kills Roberts' career. Issues involved in No 29 of PP's ministerial changes now under probe by authorities.
AUGUST–Government's "run-off" provisions in constitutional reform legislation prompts howls of protest inside and outside Parliament. COP's Bachan and Dooks vote against it (with the PNM), all but three Independents also veto bill, but it's passed with amendments. PNM screening general election nominee (screaming begins in some seats.)
SEPTEMBER–After a goodie bag of a budget, Wayne Kublalsingh's "fast" against the Point Highway brings everybody and their brother, who don't live in Debe or know the need for the project, out to beat their PP drum.
OCTOBER–ILP leader Lyndira Oudit quits, realising Jack is still boss; former deputy Anna Deonarine, surfaces alongside UNC's Roodal Moonilal; leakage continues among ILP executive/membership. Comedienne Rachael Price doesn't get laughs from President Anthony Carmona after bashing his wife's attire. Carmona's housing allowance subsequently makes headlines.
NOVEMBER–PP retreats to plan for 2015 forward momentum. PNM low energy convention launches high alert for 2015 election.
DECEMBER–Mr and Mrs John Public hopes falling oil prices don't land on them. PNM abstains from supporting an anti-corruption procurement bill and corruption allegations mount against deputy leader Marlene McDonald. Calibre of San Fernando East nominees drops to a former UNC supporter (now blacklisted by UNC supporters and also by Manning supporters who didn't nominate him), a former Beckles team supporter and others after leadership pressures Sando East to submit nominees.