Colm Imbert has dismissed suggestions that his absence during the campaign for the Local Government Election (LGE) caused the party to lose the election.Speaking with reporters Wednesday, the former Works Minister and MP for Diego Martin North East said the People's National Movement (PNM) must acknowledge that something is "very, very wrong" in the party.
He blamed the PNM's new leader Keith Rowley, saying Rowley was unable to make people want to vote PNM.
Some PNM officials have suggested that Imbert's absence for the election was partly responsible for the defeat. Both Imbert and the other Diego Martin MP, did not take part in the PNM campaign.
However Garvin Nicholas of the People's Partnership, who nearly beat Imbert in the May 24 general election, doesn't buy into that explanation. He has said it was the extensive work he did in the area for that election.
Imbert said PNM officials who blame him and Browne are in denial and "are just seeking scapegoats." He noted that the PNM "got more seats in the 1987 local government poll—46 seats—after crushing defeat by the NAR’s 33 to three general election win."
In Monday's election the PNM won only 35 of the 134 seats. "PNM’s defeat has nothing to do with MPs. People vote for local candidates and corporations, not MPs," Imbert explained.
“What appears to have happened is the residual anti-PNM sentiment and momentum from the May 24 general poll made it tough for the PNM and obviously that’s why the PP called the local election so close after the general.
“But obviously we have to examine our end and ascertain why people removed the PNM leadership in corporations like Arima and San Fernando—not Diego Martin alone.
“So PNM has to face deep introspection to figure out what’s going on because obviously we’re not clear on this...the truth is we have not done well and it is not serving PNM well to say everything is hunky-dory. Because it is not," Imbert said.
“Clearly, it has to do with Rowley’s leadership and the fact that ascension to this has not sunk in to the extent to make enough people want to vote PNM. Maybe he hasn’t been there long enough. A month or so may not be enough time for people to properly assess.
“But this is not the time to fool ourselves—that attitude will get PNM nowhere,” he added.
Imbert said the PNM has to "understand the society better" noting that "We’re out of touch." He said "everybody’s to blame" and said the PNM can move forward with Rowley only if the new leader faces the reality.
"At this time I think he needs to receive a fair amount of time for people to see he will accept we have deep fundamental problems and that the PNM’s leadership style has to become more open, embracing, less aggressive, more democratic and more willing to listen to citizens," Imbert said
1 comment:
This clown, (the Emperor's jester), is so full of hot air.
Remember the old saying about "better to keep silent and be suspected of being a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt".
His opinion, as has invariably been the case for a long time, is either wrong, redundant or both.
The positive note, such as it is, is that he is clearly pouting over Rowleys appointment as PNM leader, and trying to position himself with the remaining party faithful, (all three hundred I think!), as the man that should have the job.
With so many critical, nasty and yet accurate things that could be said about this buffoon, and unless and until he ends up in court to answer for some of them, his "pouting", is just as good as we can get, as he is still feeding at the public trough, anyway.
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