DEFEAT NOT AN END

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Transcript

00:00We have had 12-0, and you would recall that for a very long time you had William McKenzie,

00:09which was the known assemblyman for the People's National Movement for almost, I think, three terms.

00:16And not only that, we remember as a party, you know, 33-3 in 1986,

00:20and then, you know, losing, coming back again in 1998, 2000, 2010, so now in 2025.

00:35So it is for us to recall that there are times that you will have a defeat.

00:40Penelope Beckles said defeat in Monday's THA election does not mean the end of the PNM,

00:46but it is time for reflection as a party.

00:49She spoke to reporters in Tobago at the 13th Inauguration Ceremony of the THA.

00:56We were in office for a long time during Dr. Eric Williams, and from time to time we have lost.

01:02It's important for us to understand that having lost in Tobago,

01:06the important thing is to do your reflection, do your homework, you know, do your post-mortem.

01:11Don't see defeat as an end, because on each and every occasion that the People's National Movement has lost, we have returned.

01:18Questioned as to what contributed to Monday's election loss, she said there was a preliminary analysis which remains ongoing,

01:27and a post-mortem is to be conducted.

01:30If you really want to move forward, you have to do the type of analysis that allows you to assist the party in moving forward,

01:38to assist if there are candidates that want to run again.

01:42There is an indication by the political leader, Mr. Ansel Dennis, that he will resign.

01:49Internal elections are officially due in Tobago in the month of April, so I'll be meeting with the Tobago Council.

01:56They would share with me some of their own thoughts, and then I think I would be in a much better position,

02:02having done the post-mortem, as well as speaking to them, to give the kind of feedback that I think I will be comfortable with.

02:09And with no opposition in the Assembly, she said the PNM needs to pay close attention.

02:16I do remember that former Chief Secretary Oval London raised the issue about what happens when you have, you know, a 12-0, when you have a 50-0.

02:27It's important for us to recognize that, notwithstanding the fact that we may not have an Assemblyman here,

02:33that we have to be, you know, we have to be conscious of the fact that you don't have an Assemblyman,

02:38but at the same time, it does not mean that you cannot pay very close attention

02:43and that you cannot put everything in place to ensure transparency and to assure accountability.

02:49Elizabeth Williams, TV6 News.