By Alicia Chamely
POLICITAL leader-elect of the People’s National Movement Pennelope Beckles is issuing a stern warning to all candidates on her slate for the upcoming PNM internal elections, “Don’t offer yourself to serve if you are not going back to the constituencies.”
Speaking at the launch of ONE PNM campaign launch, held at the Angel Harps Pan Theatre, Arima on Saturday night, Beckles admitted the PNM had become distant and many of their supporters felt abandoned.
Beckles said, “We lost touch, and that ends NOW under my leadership!”
She warned candidates that if they were not prepared to visit all corners of their constituencies, climb up mountains and be open and available to the people, do not put yourself up for election.
Beckles said, “And I want to give you the assurance that under my leadership it is not a question of offering yourself to serve and not being accountable. So, if you know, you want to be Youth Officer, Labour Officer, PRO, and you not coming to general council to account…Don’t Come!”
She added, “Don’t offer yourself to serve if you are not going back to the constituencies.”
Beckles said it was time for the PNM to reassess the values of the party that was build by the working class, saying, “We didn’t’ lose our way, we lost touch, and that ends now under my leadership.”
She called upon the younger members of the party to be more vocal, to come forward and share what needs to be done, to lend their expertise as the party rebuilds and moves forward.
PNM internal elections are set to be held June 29 at special convention.
Candidates under the ONE PNM slate are:
Political Leader: Penelope Beckles
Chairman: Marvin Gonzales
Vice Chairman: Amery Browne
Lady Vice Chairman: Nyan Gadsby-Dolly
General Secretary: Foster Cummings
Assistant General Secretary: Patricia Alexis
Treasurer: Nal Ramsingh
Education Officer: Jelani Reid
Public Relations Officer: Faris Al-Rawi
Social Media Officer: Symon De Nobriga
Elections Officer: Indar Parasram
Field Officer: Curtis Shade
Youth Officer: Kareem Marcelle
Operations Officer: Irene Hinds
Labour Relations Officer 2/2: Kenneth Deoraj