Former PNM general secretary Martin Joseph who drowned in Tobago in 2015 will be posthumously awarded the “Dr Eric Williams Medal of Honour” at Sunday’s party convention being held in Tobago.
Joseph’s award is among several others being given to long-standing and serving PNM members, according officials from Balisier House head office.
The 48th convention for delegates and party supporters will be held at the Shaw Park Cultural Complex, Tobago from 10 am chaired by the recently-elected chairman — Finance Minister Colm Imbert.
It is the first PNM convention to be held in Tobago.
The highlight of the convention will be the presentation of the “Dr Eric Williams” Medal of Honour to long-standing members.
Other convention highlights include remarks by THA chief secretary Kelvin Charles, PNM leader Prime Minister Keith Rowley’s feature address and the announcement of PNM deputy leaders. Current leaders are Charles, Joan Yuille-Williams, Port-of-Spain South MP/Public Utilities Minister Marlene McDonald and Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan.
Joseph had been PNM general secretary for 17 years from 1993 to 2010 during the Manning administration. He died in Tobago in January 2015 when he drowned at Old Grange Bay during a swim.
Joseph had been on vacation and his body washed ashore later. Joseph had been spearheading plans for PNM’s 2015 general election campaign after being hailed as a key member of the team that assisted the PNM to regain control of the Tobago House of Assembly in 2013.
He was a member of the House of Representatives (St Ann’s East) from 1995 to 2002, before being made a Senator. He was Minister of Public Utilities and the Environment (2002) Minister of Housing (2002 to 2003) and Minister of National Security (2003 to 2010).
Up to Monday, ten recipients were listed. The list was extended to 14 by Thursday.