Newly-appointed People's National Movement (PNM) senator Pennelope Beckles says the party lost the May 24 election due to several factors–including insensitivity by the Patrick Manning leadership. She said one of the major lessons to be learned from the blow dealt to the PNM was "politicians should not take the electorate for granted." Beckles made this comment yesterday at a symposium on the 2010 General Election in T&T: Analysis and aftermath.
It was hosted by the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies, at UWI, St Augustine. Before delivering her address, Beckles was greeted with a lusty round of applause. She wondered whether there were any "Arimians in the house." On a more serious note, Beckles said: "Insensitivity by the leadership, Udecott, crime, property tax, housing...People have been saying they were waiting for a house for 30 years. There was a feeling all was well if they were paving roads and there were fast ferries and people would forget about the church (Heights of Guanapo)," she said.
Beckles opined the coalition, too, would do well to heed the results.
She said: "Politicians must not take the electorate for granted. The issues. The selection of candidates." Maximum leadership had its flaws, she said. "The entire decision-making process was in the hands of one person or a group of persons," Beckles said. She also identified themes like arrogance versus humility and lack of genuine understanding for people's needs as more reasons for the PNM's massive defeat at the polls.
'No man greater than the party'
On the hustings, the PNM hierarchy had maintained "Great is the PNM: It shall prevail." But fellow panellist, UWI lecturer Dr Indira Rampersad, said eventually people decided to go onboard with a sea lioness (Kamla Persad-Bissessar) who had destroyed an old sea lion (Basdeo Panday). Without making direct reference to Manning, Beckles said: "No man or woman is greater than the party." But as the healing process begins, Beckles said: "The party would have to look at its structure. See if it is still relevant. To develop the party. We need to address a lot of the older methods."