Prime Minister Patrick Manning's light-hearted reaction to the media at a Hilton function yesterday probably said it all. After blanking questions about PNM MP Keith Rowley's statements on Thursday night and then being asked about his own feelings regarding the media, Manning mouthed smooches at reporters. (A Manning reaction hardly–if at all–ever given to the media.) On Wednesday in Arima, however, Manning didn't appear ready to pucker up for anyone in the media when he accused newspapers of coming together against the PNM.
However, Rowley's platform debut may have helped improve his leader's mood in the current keen election campaign. A bit. With the UK heading for a possible coalition arrangement to avoid a hung Parliament, and with an opposition coalition force rolling locally, the ruling PNM appeared yesterday to be breathing a collective sigh of relief at Rowley's statements on Thursday. His platform appearance–albeit sans leadership–in his Diego Martin seat telegraphed various messages, clear as well as coded.
Rowley found his way out of what could have been a compromising situation where his issues with Manning were concerned in the election situation. (Thanks to a Carnival Tuesday sailor suit which provided the appropriate analogy.) Key in the scenario is the fact that the party has been assured he is actively on board with his leader and party in the election fight regardless of the two years' of differences between both in and out of the Parliament.
While his innuendoes confirmed his continuing concerns about Udecott and other issues, his current corruption fight will be against the Opposition.
At this time. Rowley made it clear there would be time enough later on for "dry dock" internal scrutiny of the PNM and any "court martial" action. PNMites believe Rowley's intervention–which has come in the last weeks of the campaign–could turn the political tide under the PNM ship now facing gusting Opposition winds. Following the huge reception Rowley received by members at PNM's launch last weekend in Woodford Square, his position as the faithful "sailor" will obviously shore up his political stocks further with PNM faithful. Which will undoubtedly serve Rowley in good stead for whatever "dry docking" of the PNM "ship" –or court martial–that may lie ahead.
Rowley, who stressed his loyalty was to "party and country"(sic), ended not by calling for the political demolition of the Opposition, but by calling for PNMites to "take control of your party." A call which he first launched in 2008 when he was fired by Manning from the Cabinet. Rowley could well afford to be generous. He may not have long to wait–16 days–to see where the PNM's "ship" will berth. Whether in or out of government, and what this may bring. A PNM loss could give Rowley larger political life if the leadership comes into question then, while a PNM victory may–or may not–bring other issues as to where he fits in.
Rowley, Manning for Tobago meetings
Following Thursday's meeting, leading roles for Rowley in the Tobago campaign–where PNM is reported to be faltering–will be firmed up today. Yesterday Tobago PNM leader Orville London said Manning and Rowley will deliver the feature addresses at two PNM meetings tomorrow and on May 16 respec- tively, where PNM's two Tobago candidates will be launched. London confirmed both men will not be on the same platform. Manning will head tomorrow's meeting in Scarborough while Rowley will lead the May 16 meeting scheduled for Roxborough, Tobago East.
Rowley's help may be vital in view of the perception that Tobago East may be marginal–this following the showing at the UNC/TOP campaign launch. London said, "We're comfortable but not complacent with Tobago West but Tobago East has always been close. Our campaign started three weeks ago and issues have gone beyond the Tobago hospital to leadership–Tobagonians haven't forgotten their experiences with the UNC Government." London criticised UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar's visit to former President Arthur NR Robinson. "It's a brazen attempt to use Mr Robinson to legitimise the UNC/TOP alliance. But we also met with Mr Robinson two months ago on the same constitutional reform issues. He's also met Dr Rowley," London added.
UNC restrategises
After fielding–and backing down–on the effects of issues concerning candidates, including Herbert Volney, the Opposition grouping also had short-lived success this week with its bid to use the Manning/Rowley issue among ammunition. However, Rowley's declarations may also fuel Opposition accusations about that rift and that Rowley has been "silenced," or sold out on his Udecott concerns. UNC heads into next week–a pivotal point in the campaign–dogged also by an alleged "hoax," but still receiving mileage with reports of attacks on members and UNC leader Persad-Bissessar's meeting with Robinson.
Expanding on policy announcements this week, the campaign is expected to get into higher gear next week, UNC officials said yesterday. The COP has also produced substantial policies for the grouping, particularly where justice/security, health and business are concerned. The Opposition group is intensifying efforts in certain key seats –apart from parties' safe seats–considered to be areas where the election may be won or lost. These include Pointe-a-Pierre, Moruga/Tableland, San Juan, Chaguanas East, St Joseph and Tobago East/West. Outgoing UNC MP Kelvin Ramnath believes the election could be won by one or two seats. UNC deputy leader Suruj Rambachan, busily becoming acquainted yesterday with the seat he is contesting–Tabaquite–said: "No seat is safe for the PNM; we're tuned and are now fine-tuning."
Arima lags?
Former Minister Ken Valley, who could not make it to Rowley's meeting on Thursday, said enthusiastically yesterday:
"One thing I can say is that I'm sure I'm voting for Keith."
PNM's Amery Browne, whose Diego Martin Central constituency borders Rowley's, appeared to be the only PNM minister at Rowley's meeting. Browne said yesterday, "I was impressed with the size of the crowd. I think Dr Rowley as expected remained strong in his allegiance to the PNM and the entire slate of candidates. His speech has just delivered additional momentum to the PNM's campaign that continues to gain strength. "I'm not surprised that he waded into Kamla, Dookeran and others and I'm sure he will have more blows to deliver on that position. I'm sure he'll be speaking at other meetings."
Browne added, "I quite agree with his message that when in battle we all have to be united under our leader, which to me was the theme of his message, rejecting those who anticipated a leadership struggle within the PNM." Browne declined reply on further queries about the Rowley/ Manning aspect. Arima MP Pennelope Beckles was not at Rowley's meeting. She had hoped to attend but did not since she was the feature speaker at PNM's La Brea campaign launch. Beckles however may have some work to do "at home" in Arima where officials of the Arima constituency secretariat hinted that new candidate Laurel Lezama-Lee Sing was still having problems.
While Beckles had shepherded Lezama-Lee Sing through most of the process so far, she has not yet walked the constituency with Lezama-Lee Sing, who is pregnant and who has not yet started local constituency meetings in her area. The crowd at the FCB car park at PNM's regional meeting held in Arima on Wednesday–which chairman Ralph Maraj had described as "humongous"–was thick around the stage area east of the car park. But there were enough spaces behind the television cameras' platform further down to walk around without being squeezed. The meeting featured supporters from various constituencies. Members of the PNM's Arima management team intensified efforts this week attempting to ensure Lezama-Lee Singh maintains as wide a margin of victory as Beckles did in 2007 with over 8,000 votes.
Vasant, Dooks side by side
They had a bitter fight for St Augustine in the 2009 general election, but yesterday the winner of that fight (MP Vasant Bharath) and the loser (COP leader Winston Dookeran) were walking together in Tunapuna to bolster Dookeran's campaign there. COP officials leaving the Tunapuna office confirmed Dookeran had asked Bharath to assist. Contacted on the walkabout, Bharath, who admitted to wearing a "Dookeran" button, said:" I made a commitment to assist the candidates and I have to fulfil my word." Bharath has also toured with COP's Prakash Ramadhar, who is contesting his seat and attended fund-raisers for him
Bas: US strategy not working
While Bharath is assisting coalition members, UNC founder Basdeo Panday is hardly doing the same. And the only mention of his name along UNC's campaign trail was by Fuad Khan in St Joseph last week, when Khan told the crowd that Panday did not put his wife Oma in the Cabinet as Manning had with his spouse. Panday, who met with other sidelined MPs and senators on Monday to decide whether to contest independently, did not do so eventually. "We decided we don't need to meet anymore now. We'll see what happens after the election," he said. Panday, who turns 77 on the day after the May 24 election, added: "While I have no intention of re-entering electoral politics I want to continue to serve people so I propose establishing a foundation for this purpose to try and deal with people's problems."
Panday yesterday flatly stated that he believed the allegation of a hit against Persad-Bissessar was a "hoax." "The question is why would one need to resort to that? And that would be only because one's popularity has shifted or is waning and one's media image was dying, so some sensationalism would be required to assist it. If that is so, then that's admission that the force they put together is getting weaker instead of stronger. "They may have peaked too early, but it seems the PNM may be picking up in some areas. I had quite expected Dr Rowley's points. Some of us who sat around discussing what he might do had figured he would say something like this–that it was most important that PNM should win."
Panday added, "The PNM is a cult. I was trying to get to the same level with the UNC but it didn't turn out that way. PNM supporters may have a problem with their priest so to speak but they are still going to church so the PNM will vote PNM regardless." Panday believes the UNC's American handlers' styling–usually applied to a presidential election–is not in sync with the local electorate's perspective: "They feel people must fix their hair and teeth and speak with a twang to reinvent themselves and people will just accept that. T&T voters who are smart have larger priorities beyond image because we have many basic issues in T&T that need fixing."
While Panday is out of the UNC's loop, MP Ramnath, similarly sidelined, said yesterday he is helping some members with "paperwork."