At the recent Divali Nagar, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar related (in less than joyful tones) how she had to stand up in the Parliament and answer queries which Opposition MPs posed, in the new agenda format.She noted, however, MPs had agreed to it as part of the new Standing Orders.
Accountability apart, the weekly Q&A has arisen within the general election year in time to to supply voters with snapshot insights into the political prowess and leadership skills of both incumbent PM and aspirant.
At Wednesday's sitting, Opposition leader Keith Rowley lost no time topping queries with the e-mail which Works Minister of State Stacy Roopnarine had sent the PM about alleged interference by her boss, Suruj Rambachan, in the urepe interchange bidding. It remains to unfold how much division–or other effects–this may cause among the PP crew following the PM's defence of her senior minister and handling of her junior.
Persad-Bissessar's statement that concerns "arose" and "were addressed to my satisfaction," and Rambachan's refusal to speak on it, leave the issue open to speculation despite their position that no award had been made.
The e-mail was the buzz at last Friday's PP Tobago retreat, where general-election planning headed the agenda until 9 pm and continued yesterday at the Diplomatic Centre. PP officials said leadership concerns included internal Cabinet tiffs. Brainstorming sessions continued up to yesterday.Persad-Bissessar's declaration that polls aren't "around the corner" would have been the prompting factor behind PNM leader Rowley's lobby at last Sunday's PNM convention for elections to be held by May-June.
While attracting a respectable number–without visible excess–convention attendence wasn't 10,000, as chairman Franklin Khan had called for at the Hyatt convention. General secretary Ashton Ford says the PNM put out 7,000 chairs and the crowd size was 7,500.
With plain, subdued stage decor and a traditional PNM Afro-T&T profile (minus major transformation, or many youths), the low-energy gathering was at odds with Khan's announcement that it was the final convention before the election. Questioned on Monday, PNM PRO Faris Al-Rawi said it went exactly as planned, since he'd wanted focus on policy discussions.
A new PNM Government, while offered as the antithesis of the PP, bears certain PP stylings. The theme of Rowley's governance plan (according to his speech) was "people-centred development". That the PNM recognises election 2015 will be a battle of leadership was also reflected in the rest of the slogan: "Principle-centred leadership."
The PNM's election attack will also focus on PP misdeeds, judging from the adoption of the tenet of morality in public affairs. How he deals with the retort on that point where the PNM is concerned remains to unfold.
Also ahead lie ground responses to signals that a PNM Government will be a tighter, leaner (PP supporters say, "meaner") machine, decrying dependency, cutting expenditure and overhauling social-services delivery. Recognising the repercussions of the cultural shift, Rowley has left discussion time for proposals to refine the plan for the election. He also pitched play to COP supporters "with the right set of principles."
Among those present, former Express/OCM board member Richard Young–who chairs the Government's Economic Development Board–sat with John Jeremie, Howard Chin Lee, Martin Joseph, Eddie Hart and Andre Monteil, watching his son Stuart (PoS North candidate) speak. On his presence, Young said briefly, "I'm worried about the country,"
Others included MATT president Curtis Williams (the THA's Tourism Division communications officer, the division confirmed) Louis Lee Sing, Hedwige Bereaux, Gary Hunt, Noel Garcia and Ferdie Ferreira.While Lee Sing, who is seeking the PoS South candidacy, has fielded numerous complaints from constituents about lack of representation, Rowley's reappointment of PoS South MP Marlene McDonald as deputy leader has led some to believe she'll be returned to contest the seat.
Al-Rawi launched cottage meetings last Thursday at a Gulf View residence, supported by his mother Diane, a former MP, and Junia Regrello. Those who attended said concerns were expressed about how he'd cope, since they had an MP who didn't live in the area. They added he sought commitment from them and appeared to get a positive response.