Pennelope Beckles-Robinson, challenger to Dr Keith Rowley for the leadership of the People's National Movement (PNM), says she will announce her team for the May 18 internal elections this Friday.She made the statement at a march held in Arima in commemoration of International Women's Day.
She said, "The team is going to be announced by Friday. I am still having a couple discussions with people. There is a dry run sometime this week. I have not completed the discussions. I don't have a slate, I have a team of people around me"I believe I can't do it alone and as you prepare for leadership, part of your strength will be the team around you, so that my team will be announced very shortly."
Meanwhile, vice chairman of the PNM's Arima constituency John Joseph said while Rowley had his full support, a show of hands vote last month showed more support for Beckles-Robinson. In a telephone interview Friday, he warned the Beckles-Robinson faction to not be too buoyed by that information."Yes, 90 per cent of the people who were here voted for Penny, but they represented less than 50 per cent of the whole voters list here," he said.Joseph said more than 60 per cent of the Arima constituency was in support of Rowley.
Last week, a letter signed by Onika Myers-Haynes from the La Horquetta/Talparo constituency detailed its support for Rowley.Beckles-Robinson yesterday said she was conscious that the issue of endorsements no longer has the same value as when the delegate system existed. She said it was now a matter of one man, one vote.
"In one man, one vote you are not directed by anyone to vote so you vote according to who you believe is the best man or woman for the job," she said. She said the process was totally different from the delegate system. Beckles-Robinson said she would not get caught up in the matter of endorsements since she would have to target each person who is a member and can vote."