There appears to be some confusion within the opposition People's National Movement (PNM) over the specific instructions that the party gave to its MPs regarding the vote in Parliament last Friday.
The official position from party whip was that MPs were told to abstain on the vote on the motion by former Prime Minister Patrick Manning seeking to have his lawyer question witnesses at his hearing before the Privileges Committee of Parliament.
However, three MPs, including Patricia McIntosh, defied that instruction and voted with Manning. Now McIntosh is suggesting that Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley had agreed that it was to be a "conscience vote".
That was her position on Saturday when the matter came up before the general council of the party at Balisier House. However, Rowley has denied that he had any conversation which anyone that could have been interpreted as giving the authority to vote against the caucus position.
McIntosh is claiming otherwise and insisting that Chief Whip Marlene McDonald was aware that she and Rowley had talked about a vote on "conscience".
PNM sources said Rowley intervened during the discussions on whether to take disciplinary action against the MPs to clarify his position that he gave no person the authority to vote against the caucus mandate.
The others who voted with Manning are Fitzgerald Jefferies and Amery Browne.
McIntosh told the council she advised the other MPs who voted with Manning that there was an agreement with the party leader for a conscience vote. And she has taken strong objection to what she said amounts to Rowley accusing her of telling a lie.
The party decided not to take any disciplinary action, pending a review by the leadership, which will report back to the general council.
McDonald told the General Council that on April the caucus discussed the matter and unanimously agreed that it could not support the motion. It suggested amendments, but Manning refused to change his position.
The official position from party whip was that MPs were told to abstain on the vote on the motion by former Prime Minister Patrick Manning seeking to have his lawyer question witnesses at his hearing before the Privileges Committee of Parliament.
However, three MPs, including Patricia McIntosh, defied that instruction and voted with Manning. Now McIntosh is suggesting that Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley had agreed that it was to be a "conscience vote".
That was her position on Saturday when the matter came up before the general council of the party at Balisier House. However, Rowley has denied that he had any conversation which anyone that could have been interpreted as giving the authority to vote against the caucus position.
McIntosh is claiming otherwise and insisting that Chief Whip Marlene McDonald was aware that she and Rowley had talked about a vote on "conscience".
PNM sources said Rowley intervened during the discussions on whether to take disciplinary action against the MPs to clarify his position that he gave no person the authority to vote against the caucus mandate.
The others who voted with Manning are Fitzgerald Jefferies and Amery Browne.
McIntosh told the council she advised the other MPs who voted with Manning that there was an agreement with the party leader for a conscience vote. And she has taken strong objection to what she said amounts to Rowley accusing her of telling a lie.
The party decided not to take any disciplinary action, pending a review by the leadership, which will report back to the general council.
McDonald told the General Council that on April the caucus discussed the matter and unanimously agreed that it could not support the motion. It suggested amendments, but Manning refused to change his position.
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