Column: PNM must confess its sins before it can move on

If the rumours are true and Patrick Manning is really planning a political comeback by unseating Keith Rowley and taking over as the official leader of the opposition he could easily do it.

After all Manning handpicked the MPs now sitting in opposition, with the exception of Keith Rowley, so they might be tempted to revolt if the rewards are attractive enough.

Colm Imbert has already shown where he stands when it comes to Rowley, having come out swinging against the new PNM leader and blaming him for the PNM's defeat in last week's Local Government Elections (LGE). And Amery Browne is also not a big Rowley fan.

So if Manning wants to call in his chips he could easily have enough MPs on his side to deal a severe political blow to Rowley, who has already been wounded by the LGE "cutarse".

From the opposition leader's office, Manning could plot Rowley's political demise, starting with restoring the old guard in the executive or adding some cosmetic changes to demonstrate that he has a sanitised team. He could also get a "Manning" Senate, meaning people like Penny Beckles would have to go.

Once in charge he can commandeer the various party groups to call for a leadership review and since the party elects its leader through a delegate system unlike the UNC's one-member-one-vote, he could suddenly be PNM leader again.

It is possible in theory. However, the real question is whether the PNM is that dumb to reinstate a maximum leader who has led them from the promised land to the political wilderness?

The results of the two elections that the PNM lost in as many months show something that may not be apparent to many - a political tit-for-tat in the two PNM camps.

Rowley and his people undermined Manning to help cause the defeat of the PNM in the May 24 general election; the Manning loyalists returned the favour and boycotted Rowley for the LGE.

In fact some of Manning's 'disciples' who currently sit in Parliament refused to be get involved in the campaign as Rowley fought to win at least some credibility.

If this political drama plays out according to the rumours it would be a gift to the People's Partnership because once again the two arch-rivals would be at each other's throat in Parliament as they were before the general election.

And you never know what secrets might get exposed as each tries to outdo the other and in the process opens the PNM's Pandora's Box.

Rowley has so far failed to show strong leadership. Instead of taking charge and acknowledging that the party made mistakes, Rowley boasted that there is nothing for which the PNM should apologise.

That faux pas totally embarrassed supporters who had hoped that their new leader would actually show leadership and make a break with the regime that he himself had called the most corrupt ever.

The problem is that Rowley remains in denial and expects that those who have always been "PNM til ah dead" will return to refloat the sinking ship just because the captain and some of the crew have been replaced.

What happened on July 26 demonstrated that times have changed and people have confidence in themselves and in the People's Partnership, which has discarded race for a more sincere type of politics based on commitment and dedication to the people.

Those who blindly supported the PNM in the hope of getting protection from discrimination now understand that they have nothing to fear from Kamla Persad-Bissessar and the new political leadership.

They are comforted because Kamla has extended her arms to all citizens, regardless of ethnicity, religion, class or political affiliation to join her in this new political revolution to rebuild a nation that had become divided and disfigured by Manning's failed policies and contempt for the people.

If the PNM hopes to prevent what appears to be an imminent implosion, it must first accept that it cannot be business as usual and begin by acknowledging that it made big mistakes and that it intends to fix the problems and rebuild the party.

That could stop Manning in his tracks and give Rowley some breathing room. And if he expects to ever lead the PNM back to government Rowley must learn from the example of the People's Partnership and build a party based on the PNM's original charter - a movement of the people, for the people, by the people.

The People's Partnership has already done that with its commitment to "serve the people, serve the people, serve the people".

And so long as it remains on focus, stays on course and maintains its partnership with the people, the PNM would have to remain in the wilderness for a very long time.

Jai Parasram - Aug. 01, 2010