Penny's slate sweeps PNM internals

THERE was a low voter turnout at the PNM internal election on June 22 as approximately only seven per cent of eligible voters participated.

A member of the One PNM slate, led by Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles, that won the election convincingly, says the turnout was not surprising.

Candidate for the post of social media officer Symon De Nobriga confirmed the slate’s victory in a telephone conversation with Newsday on June 23 after initial reports on social media.

A media statement from the party later confirmed the resounding win for Beckles’s slate.

Fifty-one people contested 15 positions on the party’s executive including high-profile posts such as chairman, vice chairman and general secretary.

Beckles was unopposed for the post of political leader, but the rest of her slate faced competition.

In the statement, PNM’s elections supervisory committee (ESC) chairman Richard Walcott confirmed the results.

By Walcott’s figures, over 7,000 of the party’s 100,200 eligible voters took part in the election.

“The committee extends heartfelt thanks to all candidates and members of the movement for their commitment and participation in our democratic electoral process.”

Successful chairman candidate, Marvin Gonzales told Newsday the turnout was unsurprising given the party’s resounding loss at the polls. The UNC won 26 seats, PNM took 13 and the Tobago People's Party earned two.

“Supporters are very disillusioned and disappointed. It's a normal part of the political cycle. The new executive will have to get to work quickly in the communities and begin the rebuilding process.”

The party lost more than 100,000 votes in the April 28 general election when compared to the 2020 turnout.

Gonzales said work has already begin to energise the party to participate in both internal and national elections with Beckles engaging in an outreach process.

“Once the party commences its outreach and rebuilding process from the ground up, the members will be energised to participate in elections, regardless of whether it is internal, local or national.”

Asked what initiative he is most excited to see implemented after their victory, Gonzales said, “I am eager to continue our groundwork to revitalise the units of the party at the constituency level, party groups, functioning executives, youth leagues, constituency women's league et cetera, and then the other organs of leadership like the general council where it will be a place to vent issues in the constituencies as well as other national issues.”

De Nobriga: Slate won because of candidates, not Penny

In the statement, Walcott added the official electoral result is still dependent on verification of the statements of the poll submitted by all presiding officers.

The preliminary results showed operation officer Irene Hinds had the largest margin of victory in any post after she accrued 5,010 votes while the nearest candidate Eber Steele-Attong garnered 1,182 votes.

De Nobriga dismissed concerns that the slate only won convincingly because Beckles was a part of it.

He added having a slate backed by the political leader has been a longstanding practice within the party.

“I believe that everyone on the One PNM team that put themselves up was the best option available.

“So, I would like to think that the members of the party who voted, voted for the best option available. It happens that the best option was also on the political leader slate.”

De Nobriga said the party’s attention now turns towards its convention scheduled for June 29.

He said he is unsure when the new slate will meet, but believes it will be soon and said the new executive is aware of and prepared for the hard work ahead.

“The political leader has said that she expects all members of her slate to be able to present their plans to general council.

“So we will be presenting the plans and… questions will be asked, positions clarified, suggestions taken on board on all of these things as we continue to refine it. But it is no sitting on our laurels.”

De Nobriga commended all the candidates and expressed his belief that now that the internal election was over, all members should work together to earn the PNM’s success at the 2030 general election.

“Everyone who offered themselves for position in the leadership did so out of love for the party and a desire to serve.

“In any race there is always one winner, but that does not mean that everyone who offered themselves doesn't have a real fundamental and important part to play in our rebuilding.”

He added he was open to hearing suggestions from those who would have contested the post he won.

“There were people who went up against me, and my intention is to work with all of them because every one of them would have had a vision for how they could have improved the PNM from a social-media perspective.

“We are all members of the PNM. We all want to see the best for the movement and we all want to see the movement back in government.”

PNM internal election winners

Post - Winning Candidate

• Political Leader – Pennelope Beckles
• Chairman – Marvin Gonzales
• Vice-Chairman – Dr Amery Browne
• Lady Vice-Chairman – Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly
• General Secretary – Foster Cummings
• Assistant General Secretary – Patricia Alexis
• Treasurer – Nal Ramsingh
• Education Officer – Jelani Reid
• Public Relations Officer – Faris Al Rawi
• Social Media Officer – Symon De Nobriga
• Election Officer – Indar Parasram
• Field Officer – Curtis Shade
• Labour Relations Officer – Kenneth Deoraj
• Youth Officer – Kareem Marcelle
• Operations Officer – Irene Hinds

This story was originally published with the headline Penny's slate sweeps PNM internal polls and has been updated to include additional details. See original post below.

The One PNM slate led by Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles has won the PNM’s internal election on June 22.

Candidate for the post of social media officer Symon De Nobriga confirmed the slate’s victory in a telephone conversation with Newsday on June 23.

Unofficial results on social media appeared to show a convincing victory for Beckles’s slate with De Nobriga having the narrowest victory margin with almost 1100 votes.

De Nobriga said while there has been no official word yet from the party, news of the win is accurate.

“From the results that we would have seen, I can verify that.

“I haven’t seen any official release from the elections supervisory committee but to the best of my knowledge all the members of the team won the offices they offered themselves up for.”

Fifty-one people contested 15 positions on the party’s executive including high profile posts such as chairman, vice chairman and general secretary.

Beckles was unopposed for the post of political leader, but the rest of her slate faced competition.