One Opposition MP tells TV6 News that he will be contesting one of the leadership posts in the PNM in its internal elections next month.
However, the MP has confirmed he will not be contesting the post of Political Leader and he is joining those in the party who believe the Opposition Leader should do so uncontested.
00:00In response to a question sent by TV6 News, Opposition MP Marvin Gonzalez has confirmed that he will be contesting one of the executive offices of the leadership of the PNM during the party's internal elections on June 22nd via the one-man, one-vote system.
00:16Just to confirm that I intend to speak with the leader of the opposition to determine which position she thinks I might better serve the party in. So I will finalize my decision after discussions with the leader of the opposition.
00:36However, in response to another question from TV6 News, MP Gonzalez, a former Public Utilities Minister, has also confirmed that he will not be seeking to compete with opposition leader Penelope Beckles for the post of political leader and that no one else in the party should do so either.
00:55With respect to your question as to whether or not the post of political leader should only be contested by the opposition leader, as the PNM seeks to go forward in its new chapter, my response to that is a resounding yes.
01:14I am of the firm view that the party does not need what I would describe as a two-head beast during this time of consolidation and rebuilding.
01:21MP Gonzalez has joined the views of those in the PNM, such as Public Relations Officer and former Government Minister Faris al-Rawi, that whoever is the political leader of the party should also be the opposition leader, now that the PNM is in opposition, after its resounding defeat against the UNC-led coalition in the 2025 general election.
01:44Simply saying that if two separate persons occupy the positions of opposition leader and political leader, it will be a recipe for disaster and it will confuse the membership.
01:56So I think the person who occupies the post of opposition leader should also be the holder or the occupier of the post of political leader.
02:09After the PNM holds its internal elections on June 22nd, the party will hold its special convention on June 29th, during which the results of its elections are to be confirmed.
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