00:00PNM's stalwart and political commentator Ferdinand Ferdi Ferreira says urgent changes are needed at the leadership level of the PNM.
00:11Ferreira says that former Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley carried out what he described as an unconscious Hatcher job on MP Stuart Young,
00:20an approach that, according to Ferreira, continued up until Dr. Rowley's resignation as political leader
00:27following the party's recent electoral defeat.
00:31Just yesterday, Mrs. Penelope Beckles-Robinson was confirmed as the unopposed political leader of the PNM.
00:38However, Ferreira tells the Morning Edition that she was not his first choice for the position.
00:45While I did not support Mrs. Penny Beckles-Robinson for the leadership of the party,
00:51I'm coming to finish in this.
00:53I respect your choice and will support her.
01:00All I ask of her is to rid the party of the baggage of the leadership at the leadership level.
01:09Rid the party of the baggage at the leadership level.
01:12He describes the election results as a devastating defeat.
01:16Ferreira notes that no PNM candidate except MP Camille Robinson-Regis secured more than 8,000 votes,
01:25adding that this points to a serious failure in leadership.
01:29He also believes MP Stuart Young, who Ferreira personally supported for the party leader,
01:35was never truly given a fair chance.
01:37When he resigned, Stuart Young became a clone.
01:41He was on a leech.
01:42I met Stuart Young.
01:43I told him, Dr. Rowley, I've told him I repeat it now.
01:46And he came out there.
01:47I told him that Dr. Rowley is making you a target.
01:52I said, you're eminently qualified.
01:56You're professional, you're independent, and so far your integrity appears to be questionable.
02:05Win it on your own.
02:08Ferreira says appointing Mr. Stuart Young as prime minister while Dr. Rowley remained on as party leader
02:15made Young a sacrificial lamb.
02:17According to him, the move placed Young in an impossible position
02:22and further reflected the leadership missteps that contributed to the party's defeat.
02:28What is known as the hubris syndrome had stepped in.
02:33And this, the leader can do no wrong.
02:37And making all these incorrect and still highly questionable decisions,
02:42you can come to no other conclusion that the leadership was almost completely divorced from the crown.
02:51Ferreira says the PNM is an institution, and despite his concerns,
02:56he is prepared to assist the new leader with its reconstruction.
03:00He is urging Mrs. Beckles-Robinson to send the right signals
03:04and put the right people in the right jobs as she begins the process of rebuilding the party.
03:09Nicole M. Romany, TV6 News.
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