Senior Political Reporter
The People’s National Movement’s (PNM) Laventille West constituency unit has ordered that a “properly constituted” meeting of the unit’s Women’s League be held due to certain “irregularities” at the League’s meeting on Monday, where attendees largely voted for attorney Kareem Marcelle to be the candidate—and incumbent Laventille West MP Fitzgerald Hinds received only one vote.
The situation was confirmed following a statement from the Laventille West chairman yesterday. Statements from other senior PNM Women’s League officials have also taken issue with the Laventille West Women’s League meeting on Monday.
The PNM issued a call for nominations from 15 constituencies held by PNM MPs on October 21. Screening is expected to begin by the end of month.
Laventille West set a November 8 deadline for nominations to be received.
MP Hinds didn’t respond to Guardian Media’s query on if he’d seek nomination.
However, Laventille West officials confirmed that Hinds had expressed interest at a recent meeting.
On Monday, the unit notified party groups that three persons have submitted consent forms for nomination: Hinds, (supported by Party Group 69), Dr Kadelle Jessamy (supported by PG 25) and Port-of-Spain corporation alderman/attorney Marcelle.
Activists said a Laventille West Women’s League meeting, held on Monday to vote for a nominee, supported Marcelle with 38 votes. There was one vote for Hinds and three abstentions.
A video clip of the voting on Hinds showed a woman addressing the gathering and stating that the current MP Hinds had indicated his interest, consenting to seek nomination to return. Calling for a show of hands, the woman called Hinds’ name three times to ascertain all who were in favour of his nomination. There was no response the first two times. One person raised their hand the third time it was stated.
Word of the outcome spread since Monday. The video clip was also leaked on social media.
Certain Laventille West activists said Marcelle was also expected to receive nomination from the constituency’s Youth League ahead, plus other party groups.
However, the leaking of the video clip of the meeting was reprimanded by senior Women’s League officials, who, in notification to the Laventille West unit expressed “deep disappointment” that a “confidential meeting was recorded” and subsequently released on social media.
It was stated that this brought the constituency unit into disrepute and tarnished the Women’s League’s national reputation. It was also stated that it was the first time “we have been entrusted with the honour of nominating a candidate for the upcoming general election—a right which League officials fought hard for—and it was crucial that members uphold the integrity of the nomination process.”
The notification also expressed concern about the use of a show of hands method for voting, called for approaching such matters with seriousness and respect and urged working together to “ensure we represent our League with the dignity it represents.”
Yesterday, a statement from Laventille West chairman Richard Walcott stated that notice had been taken of “what appears to be a meeting of the Women’s League of the Laventille West constituency” on Monday.
The statement added, “However, upon investigation, it was determined that there were certain irregularities in addition to the fact that all units of the constituency were not informed by due notice of the meeting. Failure to communicate with the wider membership of the constituency posed a serious threat which undermined the participatory process and the democracy that our party is known for.”
“The chairman and lady vice chairman of the constituency have, therefore, advised that a properly constituted meeting should be held at a determined date, time and place, ensuring that all units of the constituency of Laventille West are duly informed of the same.”
Contacted afterwards, Walcott said he had no further comment on the statement.
“It speaks for itself,” he added.
The Laventille West executive was to meet last night to decide when the Laventille West Women’s League meeting would be held.
PNM general secretary Foster Cummings didn’t respond to query on the issue. Nor did PNM Women’s League head Camille Robinson-Regis.
One Laventille West activist claimed another meeting would be “illegal.” Concerns raised by senior Women’s League officials about voting by show of hands, however, was criticised in a PNM social media circle as “hypocrisy,” citing use of such method at the PNM’s recent General Council which cancelled PNM’s convention.