SUPPORT FOR PENNELOPE

Before this afternoon's meeting there was a show of support for Pennelope Beckles as members arrived to voice their opinions.

Transcript

00:00All eyes are on Ballinsey House, all eyes are on the People's National Movement, as

00:07the party's General Council is at this time locked in a meeting to deliberate on concerns

00:13raised by some members of the party, like the person occupying the post of Prime Minister

00:18when Dr Keith Rowley steps down before the end of his parliamentary term, or to be selected

00:24by the party's membership.

00:26National Public Utilities Minister Robert Lahun says process should be followed.

00:30Well, as I think and as I said, you know, to me, as I've always expound on this matter,

00:37it is not about who, it's about the process.

00:42I am one that strongly believe, even in management, that the process is just as important as the

00:48end result.

00:50I think the PNM, clearly we are in an election year and I think this is an ideal opportunity

00:57for us to mobilise our members and energise the party by ensuring that they are part of

01:06the process.

01:07The people of Orima are here in throngs, throwing their support behind their MP, Penelope Beckles-Robinson.

01:16Former Orima Mayor Cagney Kasame says their three constituency representatives have been

01:20given certain directives.

01:22We had our meetings yesterday and we gave the general council representatives their

01:28mandate and their guidance for the meeting today.

01:31Orima will of course put a motion to the floor, but I think that there are other constituencies

01:36who will jump to the motion on the floor.

01:41We will support the open membership vote and an early convention, hopefully by March.

01:48Meanwhile, what are people saying on the ground?

01:52Melba Bokso, a stalwart of the party, says they have already made their choice and the

01:58People's National Movement will pay at the polls if process is not followed.

02:03But I just want them to go through the process.

02:06Because once you don't go through the process, we can end up like Kamala Harris in America

02:10or Trump in that election.

02:12Do you understand?

02:13So we lost, America lost the election due to Kamala Harris.

02:19But Kamala put out this effort to win the election to enable the process to be done right.

02:24Well I hope that they don't do like the people in America, sit on the couch and the

02:29court and vote once the process is done right.

02:32It must have a process.

02:34And it must be done in the legal way.

02:39And that's what I'm hoping.