The PNM reincarnation - the Peter O'Connor column

The question that comes to mind, even as the Peoples National Movement (PNM) is patting itself on the back for its "smooth" leadership transition, is: Why is the PNM so afraid of democracy?

In its 54-year history, all of the PNM’s Leaders—well there have only been four of these—have been appointed or selected, unchallenged by anyone.

Its founder, Dr. Eric Williams, became the first Political Leader, I surmise, by virtue of the fact that he had established the new party. He retained that position from 1956 through March 1981, when he died in office, without an heir apparent.

Former President Ellis Clarke appointed George Chambers as Williams’ successor and the PNM hierarchy duly ratified that decision and made Chambers the Political Leader, there being no other candidate nominated.

Chambers won the November 1981 election for the PNM, but saw his party annihilated 33-3 in the 1986 poll. The surviving trio was stalwart Muriel Donawa-McDavidson, newcomer Morris Marshall, and Patrick Manning.

The PNM would never—and apparently still will not—consider a member of their "Kitchen Cabinet" for Political Leader, so Manning was chosen. For those who do not remember, "Kitchen Cabinet" was the name Eric Williams assigned to the small group of females whom he had appointed to lesser positions in his 1976 cabinet.

The PNM won the election of 1991, and Manning became Prime Minister. However, he threw away his opportunity by foolishly calling an election before it was due, and which he lost!

He refused to step down and was actually challenged for the position of Party Political Leader by Keith Rowley.

But Rowley and his campaign manager Colm Imbert did not understand that it was "delegates", not "members", who voted for the leadership, and Manning, as sitting "leader" would never be deposed by the delegate system—the working arm of the PNM, their ever faithful, ever abused Women’s League.

Now, bear in mind that it was this failed challenge by Rowley, not "wajang behaviour", which led ultimately to his being fired in 2008! And bear in mind that it was not Manning alone who carried that resentment for twelve years, but the whole FAB, who could never accept—and apparently still cannot—that Party Leadership was subject to challenge.

Rowley suffered his several ensuing humiliations in silence—at least he never publicly displayed any bitterness. Until 2008 that is.

He did the unforgivable as far as Potentate Manning was concerned: he was critical, in a cabinet meeting, of Calder Hart. Manning brought the issue into the public, castigating and firing Rowley from Cabinet.

He went on to abuse Rowley in Parliament, "investigating" the former minister repeatedly. In all this, Manning had the enthusiastic, desk thumping support of several persons who now pledge allegiance to Rowley from their opposition benches.

Keep that in mind, folks!

As we now know, all this led to the Uff Commission of Inquiry, to Manning becoming stupid enough to call another early election, the collapse of the PNM and the rise of Rowley.

Manning, like every "anointed by God" leader before him, sought to hold on to his position. But this time angry PNMites ran him out, and Rowley was "supported" by his House colleagues to become Leader of the Opposition.

Among these "supporters" were Manning himself, desk thumping Marlene MacDonald, and impish sniper Colm Imbert, all of whom had claimed that Rowley (not Manning and their sycophancy) had brought down the PNM.

But while Rowley was Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, there was no Political Leader of the Party. Many looked towards thrice-spurned former Arima MP, Deputy House Speaker and Cabinet Member Pennelope Beckles.

Manning had been seeking to dump Beckles since 2002, and shunted her out of cabinet in 2007. He vetoed her for the Arima seat, which the PNM subsequently lost. She was being touted as the "Kamla of the PNM", a clean, strong woman who would rise above Manning’s legacy and Rowley’s wajangism and lead the PNM back to its former glory.

One would have thought that Manning and his "sycophanteers"—Imbert, MacDonald, Gopee-Scoon and others - would have supported Beckles over their nemesis Rowley. But this was not to be.

Pennelope Beckles "withdrew" from the contest, citing the need to work to heal the Party. It appears that she was either not up to the challenge, she was a victim of PNM gender "Kitchen Cabinet" bias, or that the PNM does not have the balls to conduct an open, democratic election for its leadership.

Rowley has ended up, quite satisfied it seems, with the same old Chairman, failed General Secretary and tired old Deputy Leaders. But he did tell his followers not to send him any "moo-moos" for local government.

He clearly has enough of those around him already.

Peter's columns also appear in the Newsday newspaper.