Manning getting battle-ready to face new UNC

Reliable PNM sources have told JYOTI that Martin Joseph is being removed as Minister of National Security in the Trinidad and Tobago government. It's part of the People's National Movement's (PNM) planning for an election.

PNM leader, Prime Minister Patrick Manning began his election walkabouts on Monday in Arima in eastern Trinidad. Joseph is the party's general secretary and is a very important member of the PNM's election strategy team.

He has been very unpopular in his national security portfolio and Manning has taken a lot of heat for refusing to move him.

Our sources say Health Minister Jerry Narace is also being shifted out of health to strenghten the election planning team.

Our sources say Colm Imbert, who is works minister, will also be moved. Manning had been saying that he was watching developments in the UNC to determine his next political move.

There are reports that the change in leadership in the UNC following Sunday's election that saw Basdeo Panday turfed as UNC leader has caused the PNM to seriously consider a snap election instead of going into the Local Government Elections.

In Sunday's UNC election Siparia MP Kamla Persad-Bissessar won a landslide victory, beating Panday to take charge of the party. She won more than 13,000 of the 16,000 votes while Panday received less that 2,000.

A general election is not constitionally due until 2012.