Stay out of San Fernando East business and concentrate on winning Tobago West.
That was the retort from PNM San Fernando East PRO Anthony Clarke to PNM Tobago West chairman Stanford Callender on Wednesday after Callender criticised San Fernando East MP Patrick Manning’s consent to be nominated to contest the seat for general elections again.
Callender said Manning should bow out, retire from public life with grace and go and relax or risk fuelling problems in the PNM if he continued.
He said Manning was in a state of denial and people who were “encouraging Manning in foolishness should stop.”
Callender said the PNM didn’t belong to Manning and he should know when he had served and allow others to serve.
Callender said: “This will cause the PNM problems. There should be a smooth transition.
“Because the leadership changed, there has always been a question mark on whether Mr Manning was in full support of the current leader or not.
“That’s not going to go away and the more he continues to play the game he is playing, the more the questions remain lingering.
“He has done well and had his time, therefore, retire with grace and allow the PNM to breathe, grow and expand.
“He’s on course to destroy what’s left of his legacy. I don’t know on what he’s waiting to leave.”
But Clarke said: “Mr Manning is entitled to put himself up for nomination again and that’s his prerogative as anyone else in the environs of San Fernando East and PNM’s screening team will make its decision.
“Mr Callender should stay out of Sando East business and try and concentrate on winning Tobago West for the PNM. It’s currently a TOP seat.”
Also disagreeing with Callender’s statements was Reginald Vidale, head of the Eric Williams Memorial Committee who said in a letter to the editor:
“I’m asking that Mr Manning be allowed to extend his right to be nominated and possibly be the next San Fernando East candidate. Let the screening committee decide.
“I disagree with the statement that ‘the party doesn’t belong to Mr Manning and he has no right to the party.’
“Mr Manning never said the PNM belongs to him and he has every right to the party. He might not be the Father of the Nation and party founder like Dr Eric Williams but he has every right to the party.”