Rowley has "serious difficulty" with PNM leadership; fears PNM could lose

Keith Rowley and Patrick Manning were together again Tuesday night at a political meeting in Diego Martin and the former cabinet minister made it clear that he has some "serious difficulties with my party’s leadership."

He also expressed concerns about the possible results of the election.

However he said the elections is not a popularity contest to determine who is better liked but about the policies the PNM would pursue in the interest of the people.

"I tell you one thing...The PNM is about the fundamental principles and policies that it pursues in your interest, how it governs in your interest. And therefore when you go to vote, you vote not for who like who, but the policies the PNM would pursue," Rowley said.

The former housing minister defended his party's housing policies and its policy of helping the disadvantaged and he insisted that the opposition would end the programs.

"We have to ensure that we separate the issues of the PNM as an institution and office-holders functioning for the PNM...an individual could walk away, could drop dead. But the institution is what you are supporting.

"We are the PNM, from Eric Williams days till now, to whenever. And that is why whatever they say about us in the PNM, we support the PNM ’cause the PNM represents that policy basis - multiracial solidarity, morality in public affairs." Rowley stated.

"Corruption is not an individual thing or government thing, or a party thing, it is a people thing but you must deal with it in a particular way," he said, adding that the way to address it was to have systems in place to prevent it.

"So when they come and tell you vote for them because the PNM has corruption issues, those issues that have to be dealt with, have been dealt with and will be dealt with," Rowley said.

"And when they tief your money nobody must tell you, whether PNM or otherwise, that you should apologise or feel shame for hounding anybody out of office," he said in what was an obvious reference to Housing Minister Emily Gaynor Dick-Forde.

Rowley acknowledged that the PNM is not a perfect party but also said that no party is perfect.