Outgoing Port-of-Spain mayor Louis Lee Sing says he is not the only one with concerns with respect to the People's National Movement (PNM) leadership.In a phone interview with the T&T Guardian yesterday Lee Sing said, like him, many shared their concerns over Dr Keith Rowley's leadership of the party.Reports on Monday said there was a challenge for the leadership by Senator Pennelope Beckles and Lee Sing, who vented issues with the PNM leadership on an i95.5 FM radio programme.
He said: "I cannot, as it were, not be concerned about a party where my political leader has not visited the 41 constituencies in an organised and consistent way after he has been in the job for four years."I can't, as it were, not be very vocal when I, as a member of the legislative group... the last meeting I went to was in February and the one before that was in September and it isn't because I didn't want to go to the meeting.
"Those are the meetings that were convened, so there are fundamental challenges in our party which everybody wants to remain silent on."Beckles on Wednesday, in media reports, was quoted as supporting the "duly elected leader" of the party."If and when the time comes that the party posts are vacant and I feel there is enough encouragement and support and my chances are good I will give consideration," she said.
Lee Sing, when asked if he planned to challenge Rowley for the political leadership of the party, said his plans were to ensure the PNM be returned to government.He said he repeatedly raised his issues at the General Council level and the minutes were "replete" with issues raised by him.Lee Sing, when asked if he would support Rowley, said: "I am prepared to support the political leadership of the PNM."He said since he joined the party at 14 he has been very vocal and that he was not seeking to "overthrow"
Rowley."I believe Dr Rowley feels it is Lee Sing just talking a lot of nonsense," he added. He said there were two ways to look at the situation: People could conclude he was wrong in his interpretation and assessment, or people could conclude the advisers of Rowley were wrong in their interpretation and assessment. Only time would tell, he added.
Comparing Rowley's leadership style with that of former PNM leader Patrick Manning, Lee Sing said there were many times he did not agree with Manning "but no one took offence. It did not create schisms. We continued to dialogue."He said he did not "have much dialogue" with Rowley."We cannot as leaders take the position that we will not speak to people because they are not listening to us. It is our responsibility to find the mechanisms to encourage people to hear what we are saying," he added.
Rowley was quoted on Tuesday as saying: "We have amended the constitution of the People's National Movement to put in place a one-man, one-vote system that offers every member of the party an opportunity to fully participate in the internal election process for all posts in the PNM as and when they become due.
"When I began my campaign to ask members of the PNM to vote to change its election structure it was with a view to re-energising the PNM and challenging conventions that many felt were outdated and excluded members from reaching the highest levels in the party.
"I am proud that young members have now been presented with this opportunity and I trust that all party members will focus on the job at hand.
"However at this time the party is squarely focused on the upcoming local government elections when the PNM will campaign vigorously and we expect a good result and will continue to offer Trinidadians and Tobagonians a safe port in the storm of instability that is sweeping the country. "