People’s National Movement (PNM) operations officer Irene Hinds says there is no plot against incumbent Diego Martin Central MP Dr Amery Browne.
Hinds, who is also a Diego Martin Regional Corporation (DMRC) alderman, made the comment during an interview at Balisier House, Port-of-Spain, yesterday, in response to a story published in yesterday’s issue of this newspaper which raised the issue in the wake of the rejection of Browne.
Both Browne and DMRC chairman Darryl Smith were among nominees rejected at an earlier screening exercise on April 2, but in a third screening on Monday, Smith was selected.
Sources close to Browne, who did not receive a single vote from the constituency screening committee, claimed on Tuesday that the selection of Smith as the candidate for the constituency seat in the 2015 general election was part of an alleged plot against Browne orchestrated by Hinds.
But Hinds, who is also vice chairman of the Diego Martin Central constituency, dismissed the suggestion yesterday, saying it was her party group which nominated Browne as the candidate in 2007. She recalled, however, that in the internal election for the constituency executive in 2012, Browne’s slate did not include her as a candidate.
Hinds said when she saw Browne’s slate, she approached Browne at Balisier House and said: “‘But wait, Dr Browne, how my name is not on the list?’”
She said Browne responded: “‘Nah, don’t take it personal.’”
Hinds said she did not take it personally, adding that his slate was defeated and she became vice chairman of the constituency.
“If I didn’t take that personal, then he shouldn’t take this personal,” Hinds added yesterday.
Dealing with aspects of the screening, Hinds said her party group did not nominate anyone for the first screening on April 2. She said for the second screening one week later, it recommended Shari Reynold, who wasn’t chosen. She said her group did not nominate anyone for last Monday’s screening.
Hinds said: “When we went for screening on Monday the executive of the constituency had its meeting and the vote was nine for Darryl Smith.”
Without elaborating, Hinds said she then “went into the backroom (at Balisier House) and we had our discussions, and coming out of the discussions in the backroom there was a result and that is the end of the story, the party done with that, the ship sail...time to move on.”
Somebody else’s turn
Reiterating her support of Browne in 2007, Hinds said, “It is my right if I feel now I don’t want to support (him). I can support anybody I want. The party constitution says each party group is entitled to nominate somebody, which means me.”
She said she had no issue “with anyone saying things about me because I am in public life and I am not fenced round.”
Hinds added: “Dr Browne is a member of the PNM so I have the utmost respect for him. He served his time and probably it is somebody’s else time now and there is plenty of room in the PNM for Dr Browne. I will work alongside him anytime.”
Addressing her position on the party’s screening committee, Hinds said she qualified because of her executive position in the party. She said her daughter Kellane, who is a member of the constituency executive, was not at Monday’s screening.
She also denied that she prevented party group 15 from having its AGM last year. She said the chairman of the group, in a letter, said it was not possible to have the meeting as certain issues had to be addressed in the group itself.
Hinds also denied that certain members of the constituency executive were employed in the Diego Martin Regional Corporation.
She admitted, however, that her daughter, Kellane, had been working in the corporation for 15 years.
Browne could not be reached for comment yesterday.