Twelve of 19 Diego Martin Central (DMC) party groups and constituents will file a motion of no confidence against the People’s National Movement (PNM) constituency executive in two weeks.
Lobbying for the motion is former chairman of DMC youth league and PRO of party group number 14 Mikhail Garcia.
Disenchantment and dissatisfaction continue to reign in the constituency days after the PNM screening committee rejected incumbent MP, Dr Amery Browne, as the candidate. They said the party would lose grounds in the constituency because Browne was rejected, are now calling for him to face the polls as an independent.
On Monday, the PNM selected Darryl Smith to contest the seat.
Garcia said the constituency was hijacked by its executive. “The unfortunate thing is that the executive is supposed to be the voice of the constituents, but they have been operating in a high-handed manner. We have lost confidence in them following a decision they made to expedite an AGM last year, which wilfully disenfranchised many party members from voting.”
Coming out of the motion, Garcia said they would have to call an emergency executive AGM which the party’s central executive will have to supervise.
However, general secretary of the PNM Ashton Ford said MP for Diego Martin North/East Colm Imbert had investigated the complaints raised by the constituents.
“What nonsense they talking? I am not taking any more nonsense from Diego Martin Central. The people who are pursuing this are people who are creating mischief.”
Ford questioned why issues that happened years ago were now being ventilated.
“I have no time to go back with all these things that is in the past and was dealt with by the central executive and general council. All I can tell you is that whatever complaints were made have been dealt with by the central executive. As far as I am concerned, those matters are closed.”
Garcia said “corruption is being facilitated by the hierarchy of the party,” and he has called for the screening process for that constituency to be revisited.
Constituents in pain
On Wednesday, three elderly constituents among several interviewed, openly shed tears for Browne, who they described as a performer and a people’s person.
Clutching his chest, David Cudjoe, of Texeira Street, urged Browne to go up as an independent candidate.
“Browne will win if he goes up as an independent because at least 90 per cent of the constituents are in support of him. I will vote for him,” said Cudjoe, a PNM stalwart.
Cudjoe said when Browne was rejected by the party the first time, a member on the central executive told him their MP was not a team player.
Had Browne been easy to control he would have received the nod from the party, Cudjoe said.
“Browne does not stand for wrongdoing and I think he has paid a heavy price for that. When you stand up for the right thing you become unpopular.”
Cudjoe also believes that Browne has the potential to be a future PNM leader and prime minister.
“I see him as a threat to Rowley. The man is well-loved in the party.”
Die-hard PNM supporter June Augustin, one of 4,000 constituents who signed a petition in support of Browne prior to Monday’s screening, said her MP was not selected, in her view, for three reasons.
“He is no puppet, stands for accountability, and he’s a Patrick Manning faithful. They played a game with Browne. But you mark my words, they will live to regret what they have done. No Browne, no vote,” she insisted.
Augustin felt the party has been making bad decisions.
She stated in an affidavit that last year, vice chairman of the constituency executive, Irene Hinds, described Browne as “a wicked man.”
Friends Maria Fournillier and Alvin Narine said the executive, many of whom work at the Diego Martin Regional Corporation, hastily convened an AGM last August 9, without giving party groups seven days notice.
There was also no returning officers present at the AGM, which was held at Balisier House instead of the constituency office.
Fournillier said the AGM prevented the formation of five party groups, the majority of which would have supported Browne’s nomination.
“New party groups that made requests to the executive for facilitation of their AGM were given spurious excuses. Long before nomination took place we heard that Smith was the party’s choice. There is a lot of talk on the ground that Browne should go up as an independent. I think he should stay in the party and fight it out,” Fournillier said.
Narine, 75, of Diamond Vale, said Browne’s rejection meant that the constituency was no longer a safe PNM seat.
“I am really concerned about us (PNM) winning the election because of the decisions that are being made. PNM could lose a lot of votes from PNM members. They could lose the election. That should be a concern of the political leader, who does not seem to bother. This is the kind of conflict it is creating within the PNM membership. He (Rowley) is creating dissention among the ranks. This is a sad thing for the party,” he added.
Aloofness, arrogance in the PNM
As Narine poured his heart out, he began to cry.
He said there was a certain “degree of aloofness and arrogance in the party now. All is not well in the PNM,” Narine said.
Narine said the party was destroying itself since supporters were feeling alienated.
“This is the beginning of the weakening of the PNM which was such a strong party. The party is hurting a lot of people. It is bringing conflict in the constituency. People are turning against one another.”
Joe Huntley, 77, of Petit Valley, and Lance Aguillera, a Cocorite resident, described Browne’s rejection as disappointing and painful.
Huntley said people in the constituency have been gunning for Browne for years.
“I am bitter,” Huntley said, his voice choking with emotions.
As tears welled in his eyes, Huntley said Browne was not treated fairly by his own.
“I believe the PNM needs Browne more than he needs them,” Huntley said.
Aguillera said the constituency has been embroiled in pulling and tugging for months.
“If the party loses this seat, let the executive deal with that.”
Aguillera said at a meeting, he overheard a party executive saying that she got rid of former DMC MP Ken Valley (now deceased) and she would get rid of Browne.
“Dr Browne was disrespected in the worst way. Since Browne came here they never liked him. They realised they could not manipulate him.”
Having voted for the PNM in every election, Dawn Pierre, 88, of Geridot Street, was unsure if she would exercise her franchise .
Pierre said the constituency would never get another MP like Browne.
“Listen, I don’t want tears to come out of my eyes today, but I am getting emotional. Browne is the kind of politician that we want. I think he got a raw deal. A man like Browne did not even get one vote from the screening committee? That was planned.”
She believes Browne has a strong chance of recapturing the seat if he contests as an independent.
One PNM supporter, from party group eight, said when Browne started to ask for accountability “this is what caused the confusion. The executive formed a cabal. Since that, they started to give Browne pressure.”
Smith will bring home victory
Osborne Charles, campaign manager for Smith denied that there was discord in the constituency. Charles said people were dissatisfied and that was their right.
In due course, Charles said, they will get all hands on deck and win the seat.
Told that several constituents who supported PNM in the past had indicated that they would not rally behind Smith, Charles said “you are in the press, get accustom...get real. In Arima we had the same problem...that is now turning around and support is being given to Mr Garcia. These are just teething problems that would generally occur from time to time. We are confident that in due course people would heal their perceived wounds and come around.”
Hinds did not respond to a text message sent to her phone on Friday.
However, in an article in Thursday’s Guardian, Hinds, who is also PNM’s operations officer, said there was no plot against Browne.
“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,” Hinds stated.
Mixed views about PNM’s screening process
How do you think the PNM’s screening process will affect the party’s outcome in the 2015 general election?
Natasha Skeete, 35, housewife, Tobago
Yes, it will affect the party’s outcome. To begin with, I don’t think the screening process is fair, I believe constituents should have a greater say in selecting candidates.
Alex Surajdeen, 38, Penal.
The PNM has been making bad decisions with its selection of candidates, which could backfire on them at the polls. Why put someone to contest a seat when the incumbent is working? It just does not make sense.
Suzanna Moonoo-Khan, 50, cashier, Diego Martin.
I don’t think the party will be affected in any major way. The PNM has a good chance of winning the general election.
Clifton Halls, 28, salesman, Diego Martin.
Yes, the PNM could be affected. They could end up losing a lot of votes in the end because constituents are dissatisfied with its selection process.
Harrigan Badall, principal, Diego Martin.
No, I don’t think this will affect the PNM to any great extent. The party has to get rid of some of its old baggage.
Sharon Khan-George, 48, data entry operator, Diego Martin.
Yes, it will affect the party to some degree because whoever they choose may not be what the constituents want.
Mervyn Harris, 65, unemployed, Belmont.
It’s possible. People are no longer gullible as before. You can’t shove things down people’s throats and expect them to take it. I don’t think they will win.
Earl Nicholas Taylor, former teacher, Diamond Vale.
My question is what is the criteria for the screening process? If the majority of party groups want a particular candidate...a candidate that performs, why go against? The PNM may lose some seats based on the decisions they have been making.