No PNM defections; all MPs will vote with Rowley

Donna Cox told reporters Thursday all People’s National Movement’s (PNM) MPs will support the party’s no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and all of them will vote in favour of the motion.

That would give the opposition 11 votes against the anticipated 29 from the People's Partnership. The PNM's 12th member is Patrick Manning, who is on medical leave.

Cox, who is the MP for Laventille East/Morvant, made the statement to clarify the party's position following speculation from both Persad-Bissessar and other members of her team that at least two PNM MPs were considering breaking ranks and not supporting Rowley.

One of the names that had been mentioned was Cox; the other was Colm Imbert.

Cox made it clear that there was no truth in those rumours. "That claim is false," she said. "All of our MPs are supporting our motion and will be voting for it."


Imbert laughed at the idea and suggested that the government is panicking.