Long-standing member of the Opposition People's National Movement(PNM) Eddie Hart says he remains fully committed to the 54-year-old party and its new political leader Dr Keith Rowley.
Hart said that in response to yesterday's front page story in the Express which claimed that he had left the party and was about to join the new People's Partnership Government led by Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
"It's totally untrue," Hart said when questioned by the T&T Guardian yesterday. "I am not happy at this time, not happy at all. Nobody spoke to me. I have friends in the PP, National Joint Action Committee (NJAC) but no one spoke to me. The story remains shocking to me." Hart said the Express story had done "untold damage to me and at this time I am weighing my options on what action I can take as result."
The former government minister said he was "still in shock.
"I am trying to understand how my picture and such a fictitious story could have appeared on the front page of the newspaper," he said. "I remain a loyal member of the PNM...I have always been and will always be. "I am a supporter of Dr Rowley. I am proud that he is now the leader of the party. I know he has a tall order to return the party to government, but I fully support him." On the eve of the May 24 general election, Hart vowed to remain with the PNM. He told a meeting in the St Joseph constituency that he could never be bought.
Hart again stressed that yesterday, saying he "remained totally committed to the PNM's cause...I have not joined the PP or crossed the floor." Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner told reporters on Monday that he would drop a bombshell during a public meeting of the PP in Tunapuna last night. He said a PNM member was expected to join the PP platform for that meeting.