PNM REBELLION AGAINST ROWLEY . August 28, 2014 at 11:39pm PEOPLE’S National Movement (PNM) Political Leader Dr. Keith Rowley suffered a stinging party defeat in Mayaro last weekend. Rowley’s candidates for constituency chairman and vice chairman were defeated following open rebellion from party members. Upset PNMites say the election results are the reward for Rowley attempting to foist Clarence Rambharat as the party’s general election candidate for the constituency. The defeat follows confusion during similar elections at Arima last weekend, where returning officer, Camille Robinson-Regis, abruptly shut down the polls. At Mayaro, Clifford Campbell, a supporter of Beckles-Robinson, beat Clive McKnight, a Rowley backer, for the post of constituency chairman. Campbell secured 47 votes to McKnight’s 36. For the post of vice chair, Rowley supporter, Alita Bessor, an alderwoman, lost to Bunny Mahabirsingh. Mahabirship got 41 votes, to Bessor’s 40. One Mayaro party member quipped: “If there was a run-off election, maybe the leader’s choice would have prevailed.” Mahabirsingh is a long-time party activist who had previously lost several times at party and national elections. Party members told Voice Today that the rejection of McKnight and Bessor was aimed at sending a message to Rowley that Rambharat was not a suitable candidate for Mayaro. They claim that Rambharat was being imposed on the constituency and that he does not have a track record of service to the party or the people at Mayaro. Members said Rambharat’s only link was that he was born at Enid Village, Rio Claro, on the outskirts of the constituency. Voice Today had previously reported on widespread disenchantment at Mayaro over the handpicking of Rambharat. At Arima, Robinson-Regis brought the meeting to a premature end before constituency officials could be elected, stating that certain party rules were not adhered to. This stunned members, who wondered aloud whether the constituency was being punished for supporting Pennelope Beckles-Robinson. Beckles-Robinson was recently elected chair of the Arima Women’s League. Arima PNMites are grousing that they are paying a price for their avid backing of Beckles-Robinson, a former party leadership challenger. Beckles-Robinson, a former Member of Parliament for Arima, fared well in the eastern borough in the May party election. Several party members are promoting her candidacy of the constituency. The developments at Mayaro and Arima are being seen as major intra-PNM setbacks for Rowley. Party members say they would continue to hold onto their positions with respect to Rambharat and Beckles
Posted on: Fri, 29 Aug 2014 16:27:07 +0000