PNM hits the road for local govt elections

The People’s National Movement (PNM) is smiling and has a new bounce in its step. The victory in the Tobago House of Assembly election on January 21 has re-energised the party and plans are already under way to prepare for the upcoming local government elections, expected around July. So said PNM chairman Franklin Khan yesterday at a media conference after the party’s first general council meeting at Balisier House, Port-of-Spain. 

The party, he said, intended “to beat the iron while it hot.” Khan said, “We have immediately started the process to put our constituency on alert to prepare for the local government elections. “By the next general council meeting next month, we will be able to tell you something more specific as to what mechanisms we are putting in place to start preparations for that election.”

Public meetings are expected to resume on February 26. That first meeting will take place at Hi-Lo car park in St Augustine. Each Tuesday the party will move into a different area to address citizens and supporters. “We will be hitting the roads once again and as I said, we will be beating the iron while it is hot and we will be calling for candidates very, very soon,” Khan said. 

Among issues discussed at the meeting was the PNM’s success in the THA election and its activities for 2013. Khan said the victory was attributed to three major factors: 
• The PNM granted full autonomy to the Tobago council to handle its affairs
• The PNM was pleased with the choice of candidates
• The PNM respected the sentiments of Tobago, full confidence in Tobagonians

Khan said those factors resulted in “a tsunami” that left the Tobago Organisation of the People without any seats.