00:00At the close of the PNM's nomination day for its internal elections, Penelope Beckles-Robinson
00:05remained the sole contender for the post of political leader. However, the same could not
00:10be said for other key positions, such as the chairman and general secretary posts.
00:15Renessa Cutting was at Ballysee House today.
00:22With no contenders to a bid for the post of political leader, Penelope Beckles-Robinson
00:28can safely claim the title ahead of the PNM's June 22nd internal elections. She spoke with
00:35reporters prior to the close of nominations.
00:39A little emotional, you know, but as someone having the opportunity to lead the People's
00:45National Movement, that is a privilege and honor. And I'm looking forward that it's open for
00:51anybody. I mean, that's the great thing about democracy and the People's National Movement.
00:54So I'm looking forward. I'll wait and see. And if there is one or two opponents, then
01:02it means that the People's National Movement is alive and well. And, you know, I'm looking
01:06forward.
01:07Beckles-Robinson also responded to critics who suggest she is too soft and too quiet for
01:13the role.
01:13I do not know that leadership is about how loud you speak. It's about your strategy. It's
01:18about being effective. For me specifically, I was elected leader of opposition, not leader
01:23of the party. And I have made the point that it's important to be the leader of the party
01:28so you can speak particularly on issues from a party perspective, from that strength as a
01:36political leader. So I am happy that we have had the elections. It's now, you know, the process
01:41has started, nominations, elections will be on the 22nd. And I've said today was the first
01:47day that I'm officially in the leader of the opposition office so that it gives me the opportunity
01:52for us to have our press conferences there.
01:54Fifteen other positions are up for grabs on the executive. And while Dr. Nian Gadsby-Dawley
01:59was only recently elected to the position of interim chairman by the general council, it is
02:05marvelous Marvin who aspires to the post. Attorney for Ihove Musasai and Port of Spain Mayor
02:11Chinwa Allen are also running for chairman.
02:14The challenge is good. I think it makes the democracy more interesting. You don't feel
02:19as though that you're just ushered into a position or you are just sanctioned by a general council.
02:25So competition is very good and I look forward to going on the campaign trail and convincing
02:30PNM members why I should be elected as chairman to rebuild the party at this point in time.
02:36Dr. Dawley is contesting the post of Lady Vice Chairman. Meantime, Dr. Amy Brown has thrown
02:42his hat into the ring for Vice Chairman.
02:44This really is the first opportunity with the one man, one vote system to offer myself along
02:51with several other distinguished colleagues to serve the party at a higher level. I've been
02:57a member for 30 years now and I've never offered myself previously. I must tell you I've been
03:04inspired by the Honorable Penelope Beckles. Foster Cummings is hoping to retain his position as
03:09General Secretary of the PNM and he's dismissing accusations leveled against him and the current
03:15general council by an anonymous group titled The Changemakers. To get off the list there are only
03:22three ways that you can do that. One, you go to meet the maker. If you die, you're off the list.
03:30If you are expelled and there's a due process to be expelled in the PNM, if you're expelled,
03:35you're off the list and if you voluntarily resign. Other than that, there is no way to get on the list or to get off the list.
03:44So you are standing by the validity of the listing and also the fairness of the upcoming election.
03:49Well, I just pointed out to you and the national community the process to get on the list and to get off the list.
03:56And this list has been with us. It dates back to previous years of Dr. Williams, Mr. Manning, Mr. Chambers, Dr. Rowley.
04:08Dr. Rowley. This list has been around for a while and that is the only way to get on or off of it.
04:13This election, as all elections in the PNM, will be conducted free and fair and be supervised by the Independent Supervisory Committee.
04:22However, he's not denying aspirations to become political leader of the PNM.
04:27When the time comes and I decide that that is the direction that I wish to go, I will be the first to make sure and inform party members and the national community.
04:35For this time, my support is firmly behind Penelope Beckles, political leader of the PNM, and I wish her all the best and I'm sure that she will be victorious in this election.
04:44Neither Stuart Young nor Colm Inboot have put themselves far for any post on the executive.
04:50Renessa Cutting, TV6 News.
04:53Well, at the close of the polls today, the Election Supervisory Committee confirmed a smooth process with 51 party members offering themselves for nomination.
05:04As mentioned, opposition leader Penelope Beckles Robinson was the sole nominee for the position of political leader and was therefore nominated unopposed.
05:14Issa Mohamed, Paula Gopi-Skoon and Mohamed Eunice Ibrahim are throwing their hats in the ring for the post of vice chairman.
05:21And Donna Cox is vying for the lady vice chairman post.
05:25Meantime, Tova Sandi and Roger Boynes are vying against Foster Cummings for the post of general secretary.
05:32The Election Supervisory Committee says it remains resolute in a transparent, democratic and smooth election process as the party membership chooses their leaders.
05:42On the next Friday,ATIONAOS.
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06:05If you come back from this but an introduction to theataon K tickets.
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06:09But then gown on Twitter is tuned for the post.
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