PNM’s Laventille West MP Fitzgerald Hinds has been appointed PNM deputy leader (legislative) replacing PNM MP and former minister Marlene McDonald.
The announcement was made at the end of yesterday’s PNM convention. Other PNM deputies are Joan Yuille Williams, Rohan Sinanan and PNM Tobago Leader Kelvin Charles. Hinds is minister in the Attorney General’s Ministry.
McDonald had been PNM deputy leader (legislative) since 2010. That post had been vacant since she was fired from it in August soon after being placed on seven alleged corruption charges. She was also fired from her ministerial post and has been a PNM backbencher in Parliament since.
Also at yesterday’s convention, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi, commenting on whether he’ll be contesting in his San Fernando West constituency in the general elections, said that seat is “his home and his love” and he’d be pleased to always represent it if PNM’s San Fernando West executive, PNM’s political leader and the party’s screening committee allowed it.
“If I had my way I’d be screened for it in two minutes flat,” Al-Rawi added.
Al-Rawi also said proposed legislation will be taken to Cabinet this week on decriminalising marijuana. He said this will extend to decriminalising importation, expunging the records of persons with convictions for weed possession and other aspects. He said decriminalising marijuana will result in a 76 per cent drop in the forensic workload. Also, the Senate meets on Tuesday morning on the Bail Amendment Bill to curtail bail for those with a firearm charge for the first time.