PNM Party Constitution and Governance Under Scrutiny – Insights from Former Leaders

\n\nThe interview featured two veteran figures of the People’s National Movement (PNM): Mr. Ashton Ford – former Mayor of Arima, former Member of Parliament, former General Secretary of the PNM and former diplomat – and Ms. Marilyn Gordon – former Minister, former Member of Parliament and former Lady Vice-Chairman of the PNM. Both were invited to share their perspectives on current party affairs.\n\nThe Constitution as the Party’s “Bible”\n\nMr. Ford and Ms. Gordon agreed that the PNM Constitution remains the guiding document for the party’s operations. They emphasized that the Constitution clearly outlines the party’s regulations, committees, and procedural rules. According to the guests, many members have not read the Constitution, contributing to the “nonsense” currently observed in internal disputes.\n\nGeneral Council Meetings and Agenda Requirements\n\nThe discussion turned to the procedural flaws in recent General Council meetings. The hosts highlighted instances where meetings were called without a pre-circulated agenda, violating constitutional provisions. Mr. Ford noted that the Constitution (page 50) mandates a fixed agenda covering roll-call, minutes, business arising, correspondence, finance, reports from the Central Executive, Tobago Council, standing and ad-hoc committees, among other items. Without such an agenda, members cannot prepare or understand the matters to be debated.\n\nBrian Manning’s Non-Attendance\n\nReference was made to a recent incident where Deputy Political Leader Sanjeev Boodoo claimed that former MP Brian Manning failed to attend a General Council meeting. Both guests clarified that Manning had prior commitments abroad and had informed the chairman of his inability to attend, contradicting claims that he “did not care”.\n\nInvestigation Committee Composition\n\nA major point of contention is the composition of the Investigation Committee. The Constitution allows nine members who may or may not be part of the Central Executive. Guests cited a precedent where Bridget Annie served as chair of the Constitutional Reform Committee without being a General Council or Central Executive member, underscoring that the rule requiring Central Executive membership is a misinterpretation.\n\nSelection of Central X Members\n\nMs. Gordon explained the selection process for Central X (the Central Executive). The Central Executive consists of ten members elected by the General Council and five members appointed directly by the Political Leader. The General Council itself selects its ten representatives, while the Political Leader hand-picks five. The guests confirmed that lifetime members can be appointed, though the exact circumstances vary.\n\nVirtual Participation Challenges\n\nThe hosts raised concerns about virtual attendance at General Council meetings. Both guests agreed that poor bandwidth and limited access to online platforms effectively silence constituencies, breaching the party’s requirement that representatives report back to their local groups.\n\nConclusion\n\nThe interview underscored enduring tension between party statutes and practice. Mr. Ford and Ms. Gordon called for strict adherence to the Constitution, proper agenda circulation, and transparent selection procedures to restore confidence among PNM members. Their historical perspective highlights that the party has navigated similar crises before, and that respecting constitutional mechanisms remains essential for future cohesion.