A SIMMERING race conflict is undercutting the People’s National Movement’s (PNM) December 4 leadership contest.
Some party hardliners are insisting that the traditional urban Black Christian organisation is facing encroachment by operatives of other ethnicities.
They are pointing to the sharp rise of Stuart Young, who is the sole nominee for the chairmanship of the 66-year-old party.
They are also incensed over other nominations, including that of government ministers Kazim Hosein as treasurer and Faris Al Rawi as public relations officer.
Young, Hosein, and Al Rawi reportedly have the support of party leader Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley.
Hosein, who is Minister of Agriculture, is facing heat from a small number of party traditionalists, of which a former senior Balisier House official and diplomat is the figurehead.
That PNM functionary had previously written to Rowley about Hosein when the latter was the line minister in charge of CEPEP.
The party operative had alleged that Hosein was permitting too many non-Afro-Trinidadians to be employed by the State enterprise.
Veteran journalist Andy Johnson captured the essence of the latest uproar over Hosein.
Johnson reported that the move is being seen by some as “the political leader’s objectives to privilege the presence of leading party members from the Indo-Trinidad community as a strategy for garnering greater political support from that side of the political equation.”
Johnson quoted an unnamed party person as saying that the attempts by PNM to woo Indo-Trinidadians “is not going to happen.”
Al Rawi’s nomination as public relations officer, a post he previously held, means the end of the stint of incumbent Laurel Lezama-Lee Sing, daughter-in-law of ex-Port of Spain Mayor Louis Lee Sing.
Ms. Lezama-Lee Sing – just like incumbent chairman Colm Imbert – was reportedly asked not to file nomination papers.
A source sympathetic to the outgoing PRO told Sunshine Today: “Laurel is being replaced by one of the most controversial PNM figures, who cannot manage his own image.”
The ethnicity matter is also igniting other diehards who feel the party is steering away from its base support and making room for people who have not traditionally supported the PNM.
Professor Selwyn Cudjoe has championed that cause in recent years.
On June 13, 2020, Cudjoe wrote: “Many PNM party members are concerned about the few Black members in the Cabinet and the inconsequential portfolios they hold.
“They are also concerned about how the party treats its Black members, the poverty among Black people, and the deteriorating conditions in which they live.”
Sunshine Today understands that some PNM activists are also disgruntled that Brian Manning, son of former party boss Patrick Manning, withdrew his nomination for vice chairmanship.
Manning was reportedly persuaded to back down by a senior party figure closely linked to Rowley.
Rondell Donawa is persevering in his campaign for the post and is reportedly being supported by a key Balisier House official.
But victory is expected to be secured by candidate Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, Minister of Education and an influential member of Rowley’s inner political circle.
Rowley is also said to be supporting Maxine Richards for the post of welfare officer.
Ms. Richards, daughter of former President Max Richards and a resident of Valsayn, could emerge as a general election replacement for St. Joseph Member of Parliament Terrence Deyalsingh, the Minister of Health.
Displeased PNM operatives feel Rowley should not seek to create a PNM executive of his liking, and instead, should permit all contenders to face the party’s membership.
The party people noted that early in his tenure as leader, Rowley gave up the right to veto general election candidates.
They feel Rowley should copy that approach with respect to nominations for party positions.
