After the dust of debate battle had dissipated in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, interesting Easter messages emerged from both sides.Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar spoke of Christ's life including selfless love for his fellow man. Opposition Leader Keith Rowley, alluding to the central figure of the Christian celebration, worked the resurrection theme into it.Whatever the holiday activities of each-as Persad-Bissessar marked her 58th birthday yesterday before heading for Brazil and Rowley weekended in Tobago-the remarks indeed hold messages for the country's respective political sides.(COP leader Winston Dookeran will act as PM, the OPM confirmed.)
It was PP's Jack Warner at Wednesday's House who tossed in the collective PNM face the point that the PP's Fyzabad Declaration of unity is a year old this week-this after PNM has suffered a severe credibility issue regarding management of party and the PP has a sustained credibility issue regarding management of country.Warner had a captive PNM audience in the House for his jibe, including Rowley who piloted a motion concerning former PSC chairman Nizam Mohammed.Rowley was absent for Monday's House session. But the last time Rowley was in the House-last week Friday-Government received a surprise political windfall when the PNM split occurred that day.
It is now (not positive PNM) history that three PNM MPs that day voted for a motion by former leader Patrick Manning-for legal representation in Privileges Committee matters-and five others including Rowley toed a party line to abstain.The situation dominated PNM's General Council record four-hour meeting last Saturday, producing its own explosive domino effect there, where PNM MP Pat McIntosh took the spotlight.At Wednesday's House though, while Manning was absent, Rowley and his MPs suffered PP barbs on the PNM problem."They say we can't last, but look what happen there...after last Friday, you can't say anything," Warner declared, counting how the PNM was split.
"...Three ways-five for Diego Martin West, five for San Fernando East-and two in the bathroom!" Warner added."D/M West should spend his time looking for the traitors, saboteurs and double agents on his side!" Warner continued.Wednesday's debate provided another opportunity for both sides to promote their political pluses and minimise minuses hurled at them.Rowley's motion, coming after Mohammed's dismissal, was not short-circuited as such. In substance, it appeared to flesh out further arguments on race relations which Manning had opened up at his San Fernando East meeting on the previous Monday, accusing Government of taking T&T down a dark road.
Warner levelled accusations against PNM on its own handling, noting PNM's new executive and "lack of Hindu" input. There are two Hindus on PNM's team, but Warner's claim didn't elicit quick correction from PNM's leader or MPs.Snappy comebacks however have not been in short supply among some PNMites who voted for Manning's motion.On Wednesday, MP Amery Browne escaped House Speaker Wade Mark's wrath twice.
Pat's card-flinging forgotten-fraNkie
At Monday's House session-right after the public PNM split-the spotlight fell on PNM's McIntosh who fielded the brunt of PP picong.Manning looked unperturbed as Government MPs chortled. He appeared so comfortable that when voting on the Financial Institutions Bill arrived-and PNM MPs voted with Government-Manning casually added, "For...for!"PP MPs, however, didn't let McIntosh forget she had been the centre of attention at PNM's General Council last Saturday, particularly when she had loudly challenged Rowley to deny he had told her to have a "conscience" vote, if she wanted, on Manning's motion.
Her challenge was confirmed by pnmites.
At Monday's House, McIntosh, who appeared to have strong leftover fire from the Council meeting, lashed Government."Listen and learn! ...You all sticking!" the former principal scolded Warner. "PNM is not cracking up, look at us here!"PNM's heated Council meeting, a baptism of fire for its new executive, heralded a new phase for the party and for McIntosh, PoS North MP, a newbie.If pnm found itself challenged by (Patrick) Manning's motion, it encountered further with (Patricia) McIntosh's challenge to Rowley right after. And none have yielded ground since.Apart from deputy leader Marlene McDonald's account of caucus proceedings regarding Manning's motion, of the three MPs who supported it, Browne was absent from the Council and Fitzgerald Jeffrey said he was told that Rowley had sanctioned a conscience vote.
McIntosh was left in a face-off with Rowley, being applauded by some including San Fernando East members while others were "upset," officials confirmed.When PNM chairman Franklin Khan read the disciplinary act (regarding MPs' breach of party line), it prompted firm "Nos!" from the gathering, officials said.McIntosh, incensed by the entire situation, did in fact toss her party card at Khan following the meeting, saying she could leave.Khan says, "Understandably, she was upset, it was an emotional moment, so it's forgotten. Pat took back the card-we continue united."
PNM leadership writing Patos-PNM Chairman
The Opposition split has left Rowley with (further) minus points for management and his new team relying (heavily) on spin regarding the abstentions.Whoever bought the claim that the issue was a "storm in a teacup," the matter on Monday took top news billing ahead of Rowley's concerns on an HDC project-showing just what Opposition business was news.Rowley and the team have been the target of criticism in PNM's Internet community-including former ministers, some recalling his tiffs with Manning.Where party structures are concerned, though, Rowley may be firmly in charge since nine of the 10 Central Executive members are said to be his choice, a spokesman said. Rowley also appointed the chairmen of three other teams.
Following this weekend, Rowley is expected to head to London to visit his daughter, they added. He is expected back within two weeks since the House may reconvene by May 13.PNM's Khan says the meeting to deal with caucus operations may take place after Easter or when Rowley returns."Better to let temperatures cool off. It's an issue of alignment and consistency of caucus operations. The issue may be taking a toll yes, because the parliamentary arm is PNM's public face, and our 300,000 members are jumpy, but pnm is together-we have a family day on May 29 where you'll see unity," he added."The leadership wants to talk to Mr Manning on what role he wants to play and we'll write him on having a chat. He's met with the leadership earlier, but not the new team."
May checkup for Manning
MPs however were referring to Manning when they pounded the PNM on Wednesday."He trying to resurrect...but he can't," they cried.Manning, who set the current train of events in motion (so to speak) in PNM, has also opened for the wider community a Pandora's box of constitutional, legal and other issues with his motion seeking his constitutional right of legal representation.Unheeding of Manning's argument citing T&T's constitutional rights and unheeding of his reminder of MPs' oath of office-to uphold T&T law-defeat of the motion will see it headed back to court.It is likely to go to the Privy Council if the State appeals any decision in his favour, legal sources said, and is expected to be a landmark issue-guaranteed to build or boot down some attorney's career-considering Manning has based it on enshrined constitutional rights.A situation which makes the matter a weighty political issue for Government where public rights are concerned.Lying low since the PNM issue broke, Manning is expected to head to Cuba early next month for a year's overdue check-up.
PP's glass house cracks
The weekend pass which the Opposition issue may have given the Government has not removed the PP's own (national) issues of this week or its internal (party) rumblings of the last month.Some developments continue to indicate that while Government labours with public management, Partnership underpinnings are also in need of more selfless efforts for consolidation.PNM's McIntosh on Monday warned, "Madame Prime Minister, call the fire brigade to out the fire ...people who live in glass houses should not throw stones!"Ahead of other matters (such as a surprise birthday luncheon for Persad- Bissessar on Thursday), a PP leadership meeting, which MSJ's David Abdulah confirmed took place Wednesday, had issues to start expediting.
Among them is likely to be the proposed March launch of PP's presence in Point Fortin, which failed to materialise due to Partnership disagreement, which correspondence has indicated.A March 14 letter indicated Abdulah was mobilising Point Fortin to launch a Partnership council there on March 27 and would be heading PP's presence in that seat.But a March 15 reply from COP chairman Joseph Toney indicated COP would not sanction Abdulah as the Point shadow MP and couldn't attend the March 27 event. Toney repeated COP's calls for a report on the January meeting of PP chairmen, which was to have started talks towards smoother functioning.
Abdulah's March 15 reply indicated COP members were present at a Partnership meeting where enthusiastic support for the Point initiative was given.He said the plan was necessary "if we as a party are to successfully challenge the PNM in a stronghold area." Abdulah said he had given a report on the chairmen's meeting to Dookeran.On March 16 also, PP member NJAC wrote all parties indicating it would not attend the March 27 event, had designated Nyahume Obika to "work" Point, advised one Marilyn Ramnarinesingh to mobilise the area for NJAC, and was opening its own constituency office in Point on March 16.
Yesterday Abdulah said launch of the Point plan was on hold and being worked out. He said Wednesday's meeting on the anniversary of PP's Fyzabad Declaration reaffirmed commitment and continuing discussions to Partnership strengthening."We know there are issues, we're trying to put processes in place to deal with this," Abdulah added.The UNC also has sought to deal with issues which arose recently following complaints by COP MP Lincoln Douglas that "persons operating under the guise of UNC" in his seat were attempting to undermine his authority by giving Cepep contracts to PNM people.Douglas wrote Persad-Bissessar and Roodal Moonilal on this on March 16 (at 3.49 am).
Douglas expressed concern that the people were trying to "destroy the Partnership and derail the togetherness process."He asked Persad-Bissessar if she sanctioned the situation and said if the undermining continued, the Lopinot/Bon Air seat would return to PNM.Douglas indicated he would hold a press conference on the issue that week. But none came off since UNC officials "dealt with it," a UNC member added. Douglas did not return calls Thursday.
July 3 election for DooksCOP post-Anil contesting
COP's Anil Roberts announced to a COP Diego Martin cottage meeting two weeks ago he would contest the post of COP leader held by Dookeran, officials said.COP's National Executive last week set the election date for the post as July 3, tentatively, the executive confirmed.