ADRIAN Leonce withdrew as PNM general election candidate for Laventille East-Morvant because of his statement about salary increases for top public officials.
Party leader Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley instructed that Leonce back out of the election race following a comment on the Salaries Review Commission’s (SRC) proposals.
Leonce, a minister in the Ministry of Housing, recently told the Guardian newspaper that he believes the government will not accept the SRC’s proposed increased salaries.
He was quoted as saying: “I don’t think it’s going to happen. Not at this point.”
Leonce is not a member of the Cabinet.
Informed sources said that Rowley became enraged over Leonce’s remarks.
Instructions were later passed from Balisier House that the incumbent Member of Parliament should stay away from the screening process.
As a result, Leonce did not present himself to the Screening Committee, attributing his absence to unspecified personal matters.
He was the sole nominee of the party’s constituency executive.
He first entered the House of Representatives following the 2015 general election.
Officials of the executive are still hoping that Leonce will be accepted as the candidate, saying he has been an effective representative.
There have been informal discussions on a possible protest outside of Balisier House during a forthcoming screening session.
The MP’s views on the salary increase are counter to that of Rowley, who controversially accepted the proposal on behalf of Cabinet.
The Prime Minister is facing stinging national criticisms for his shock action.
He would receive a 47 per cent hike in his remuneration at a time when public officers have been forced to settle for four per cent in the midst of soaring cost of living.
There is also growing unemployment.
Other government officials have declined to comment on the surprise decision to accept the SRC offer.
Quizzed by the media, Finance Minister Colm Imbert said that “the Prime Minister has spoken” on the matter.
But there is disquiet in Cabinet on the issue, with certain ministers fearful that the PNM would suffer at the polls for taking hefty pay increases at a time of economic hardship,
The Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union recently led a public protest on the matter.
Leonce’s withdrawal follows that of fellow incumbent Fitzgerald Hinds, representative of Laventille West, amid the constituency’s support for challenger Kareem Marcelle.
Marcelle, who is popular among constituents, was subsequently confirmed as the candidate.
The inner city communities – traditional PNM supporters – have been voicing frustration with the ruling party over their declining quality of life while business elites are becoming richer.
Stephen McClashie, MP for La Brea and Minister of Labour, is also out of the election race.
