PNM moves to one member, one vote for election of officials

The opposition People's National Movement (PNM) agreed Saturday to review its constitution to allow election of its officers through a one member, one vote system currently used by the country two other major political parties - the United National Congress (UNC) and the Congress of the People (COP).

PNM Chairman Franklyn Khan said a motion on the matter was adopted at the party's  General Council meeting.

"The party will now institute a one man, one vote system for the election of officers of the movement. That had a lot of debate but it was formally adopted. one man, one vote for all party officers, the officers of the movement," Khan told reporters.

He said the PNM's Annual General Convention will ratify the motion in October. Khan said the change is part of the PNM's major "democratisation" process.

Another change is to take away the political leader's veto regarding the selection of candidates for general elections. The Screening Committee would have that privilege.

The PNM has also moved a motion to give its Tobago Council more autonomy to address its affairs. Khan noted that the PNM has "the untenable situation in Tobago where the Leader of the PNM in Tobago is not an elected position." 

He added, "We are going to change that. We are going to create a position called 'Political Leader Tobago Council PNM' and that would be an elected position. That person who is elected to that position will automatically become the Deputy Political Leader of the party."