Former Tobago East MP Eudine Job-Davis has defended her decision to contest the post of PNM lady vice chairman after her bid was stiffly criticised by PNMites at last Saturday's PNM General Council.
Job-Davis will contest the post against Laventille East MP Donna Cox. The 29 nominees for 15 executive posts were officially announced at last Saturday's council meeting. However, when Job-Davis' name was announced for the lady vice chairmanship it was met with a heavy round of negative rumbling, including a motion against her, PNM officials confirmed. The motion called for Job-Davis to be expelled from the party but it was eventually withdrawn, officials added.
There was heated discussion on Job-Davis' departure from the PNM after she was blanked as a candidate for 2007 general election by the previous Manning administration-and her subsequent appearances with UNC and COP officials. Various PNM General Council members alleged Job-Davis "was on a COP platform last election." Others noted she had criticised the PNM when she was estranged from the party. Concern by PNMites also was aired on whether Job-Davis was qualified to contest as a full-fledged member since she had said she had resigned from the PNM. PNM officials said PNM leader Keith Rowley attempted to point out the process was open to members and that there was a process regarding expulsion.
Yesterday, Job-Davis who said she had resigned from the PNM in 2007, said she rejoined the PNM around the time Rowley became PNM leader last year. She said she had attended the last PNM convention at Chaguaramas where he spoke. Job-Davis added: "I applied and I was accepted. I did not appear on any COP platform, I supported no one in the last election and I told the media that." While Job-Davis confirmed she had attended a dinner in 2007 with UNC's Jack Warner, Ramesh Maharaj and COP's Timothy Hamel-Smith and others, she said she was invited to speak on human rights. She added: "My criticisms in the past was not of the PNM per se, it was of policies. People have to understand that if they see things going wrong, we have to say so and redefine things,"
Job-Davis said she heads a Tobago party group in Bagatelle and had always been in touch with Lyle Thorne, a Tobago PNMite of note. She said she had been persuaded by Tobago PNMites to return. She added: "I felt I had to return when you look at the other options. It wasn't the easiest thing to do but I did what I think is right for me and the people." Job-Davis said institutions had to evolve and PNM's philosophies and ideologies were still strong. She said she had met the leader and was comfortable with what he had done so far. The lady vice chairmanship governs the party's women. If elected, Job-Davis hopes to raise the profile of PNM's women and work with various other organs. She said she hoped to bring her expertise, knowledge and passion to the fore.