People's National Movement
Encyclopedia
The People's National Movement is the present-day opposition political party
in Trinidad and Tobago
. Founded in 1955 by Eric Williams
, it won the 1956 General Elections and went on to hold power for an unbroken 30 years. After the death of Williams in 1981 George Chambers
led the party. Under the weight of allegations of corruption and mismanagement the party was defeated in the 1986 General Elections, losing 33–3 to the National Alliance for Reconstruction
. Under the leadership of Patrick Manning
, the party returned to power in 1991 following the 1990 attempted coup by the Jamaat al-Muslimeen
, but lost power in 1995 to the United National Congress
. The PNM lost again to the UNC in the 2000 General Elections, but a split in the UNC forced new elections in 2001. These elections resulted in an 18–18 tie between the PNM and the UNC, and President Arthur N.R. Robinson
appointed Manning as Prime Minister. Manning was unable to elect a Speaker of the House of Representatives
, but won an outright majority in new elections held in 2002 and again in 2007, before losing power in 2010.
The party symbol is the Balisier flower (Heliconia bihai
) and the Party's political headquarters is known as the "Balisier House".
with 38.7% of the votes cast. In order to secure an outright majority in the Legislative Council Williams managed to convince the Secretary of State for the Colonies to allow him to name the five appointed members of the council (despite the opposition of the Governor
Sir Edward Betham Beetham
). This gave him a clear majority in the Legislative Council. Williams was thus elected Chief Minister and was also able to get all seven of his ministers elected.
In the 1958 Federal Elections (which the PNM contested as part of the West Indies Federal Labour Party
), it won four of the 10 Trinidad and Tobago seats with 47.4% of the vote. The Opposition Democratic Labour Party
won the other six seats.
In the 1966 General Elections the PNM won 24 of 36 seats with 52% of the vote. However economic and social discontent grew under PNM rule. This came to a climax in April 1970 with the Black Power Revolution
. On April 13, PNM Deputy Leader and Minister of External Affairs A.N.R. Robinson
resigned from the party and government. On the 20th facing a revolt by a portion of the Army in collusion with the growing Black Power
movement, Williams declared a State of Emergency
. By April 22 the mutineers had begun negotiations for surrender. Following this certain ministers were forced to resign including John O'Halloran, Minister of Industry and Gerard Montano, Minister of Home Affairs.
In the 1971 General Elections the PNM faced only limited opposition as the major opposition parties boycotted the election
citing the use of voting machines. The PNM captured all 36 seats in the election, including 8 which they carried unopposed. Additionally Williams split the post of Deputy Leader into three and appointed Kamaluddin Mohammed, Errol Mahabir and George Chambers
to the position.
In 1972 J.R.F. Richardson crossed the floor and declared himself an Independent. He was subsequently appointed Leader of the Opposition
. He was soon joined by another M.P., Dr. Horace Charles.
In 1973 the PNM faced a major crisis. On September 28 Williams announced that he would not stand for re-election. This led to a race to succeed him as Political Leader of the party. By November 18 250 of 476 registered party groups had submitted nominations, 224 of them for Attorney General
Karl Hudson-Phillips
and 26 for Minister of Health, Kamaluddin Mohammed. Williams announced on the December 2 that he would return as Political Leader and Hudson-Phillips was forced out of the party.
On March 29, 1981 Eric Williams died. Williams had maintained an iron grip over the party and forced all potential rivals out of the party. In the absence of a clear successor, President
Ellis Clarke
was left to choose the new Prime Minister from among the three Deputy Political Leaders of the party. Clarke appointed George Chambers
Prime Minister in preference to Kamaluddin Mohammed
and Errol Mahabir. It was widely assumed that Mohammed and Mahabir were not selected because they were Indo-Trinidadian
s. Chambers was subsequently elected as Political Leader of the PNM and led the party to victory in the 1981 General Elections. The PNM won 26 of 36 seats and 52% of the vote.
It subsequently held on to power until 1986 when it was defeated by the National Alliance for Reconstruction
(NAR) under the leadership of A.N.R. Robinson
. The PNM won 3 of 36 seats with 32% of the vote. Chambers resigned and was succeeded by Patrick Manning
as Political Leader.
, Keith Rowley and Augustus Ramrekersingh as his deputy leaders.
The PNM was returned to power in the 1991 elections after the NAR self-destructed. In the 1991 election it won 21 of 36 seats with 45% of the vote. However in the later half of that term the party became unstable. It lost one seat in a bye election and another when Ralph Maraj defected to the United National Congress
. The issue that led Maraj to defect was the declaration of a limited State of Emergency which sole purpose was to remove Occah Seepaul (Maraj's sister) as Speaker of the House of Representatives. The party also suffered a loss of support with the death Minister of Public Utilities, Morris Marshall, a favourite of the party grassroots. Attempting to halt the decline in party support Manning called an early 'snap election' in 1995 . Many party 'front benchers' did not seek reelection including Finance Minister Wendell Mottley
.
The party lost the 1995 General Elections
winning 17 of 36 seats with 48% of the vote. The United National Congress
(UNC) under the leadership of Basdeo Panday
also won 17 seats and formed a coalition government with the National Alliance for Reconstruction which had won the remaining 2 seats. The PNM was further weakened when two MPs resigned from the party and threw their support behind the UNC government. This led to numerous calls for Manning to resign the party leadership, and for calls for Mottley to replace him. Manning declined to resign and Mottley appeared to have taken a sabbatical from politics. When leadership elections were held in 1997 Manning was challenged by Keith Rowley
. Manning was returned as Political Leader.
In 2000 the PNM suffered another defeat, winning 16 of 36 seats with 46% of the vote. Another election was held in 2001 which resulted in a tie with both the PNM and UNC winning 18 seats, the PNM with 46% of the electoral vote and the UNC with 50%. However President Arthur N.R. Robinson
appointed Manning as Prime Minister because the PNM had more representative that went up on a PNM ticket.(In Trinidad and Tobago's elections, the amount of seats needed to occupy the lower house is really the best indicator of whether or not a party would win elections). Unable to elect a Speaker, Manning advised the President to prorogue Parliament. On October 7, 2002 General Elections were held in which the PNM won 50.7% of popular votes and 20 out of 36 seats.
The last PNM administration had been plagued with a sharp increase in violent crime, controversy regarding appointments and the issue of broadcast licenses, dictatorial tendencies, and allegations of incompetence, corruption
and nepotism
. Among the issues are:
A more objective evaluation of these developments however, indicates that accusations of corruption were also made against the former government of Basdeo Panday
. Race is often well spoken about when referring to the party as the vast majority of the members are of African descent.
elections
, the party won 45.85 % and 26 out of 41 seats.
, the party's leader, called for General Elections
to be held on the 24th of May, 2010 over two years before the law required elections to be held because he was about to face a no confidence vote in parliament because of all theallegations of corruption and this no confodence vote would probably not have came out on his favour so he decided to let the people decide who they want as their leader and because of this the party suffered a resounding defeat being only able to hold on to 12 seats while a coalition led by the UNC's political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar
won 29 of the 41 seats in Trinidad and Tobago
. On 27 May 2010, Manning resigned as Political Leader of the party and currently Dr. Keith Rowley
is Political Leader.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
. Founded in 1955 by Eric Williams
Eric Williams
Eric Eustace Williams served as the first Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago. He served from 1956 until his death in 1981. He was also a noted Caribbean historian, and is widely regarded as "The Father of The Nation."...
, it won the 1956 General Elections and went on to hold power for an unbroken 30 years. After the death of Williams in 1981 George Chambers
George Chambers
George Michael Chambers was the second Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago. Born in Port of Spain, Chambers joined the People's National Movement in 1956, and was elected to Parliament representing the St. Anns East seat...
led the party. Under the weight of allegations of corruption and mismanagement the party was defeated in the 1986 General Elections, losing 33–3 to the National Alliance for Reconstruction
National Alliance for Reconstruction
The National Alliance for Reconstruction was the governing party in Trinidad and Tobago between 1986 and 1991.-History:The party was established in 1986, aiming to be a multi-racial party...
. Under the leadership of Patrick Manning
Patrick Manning
Patrick Augustus Mervyn Manning was the fourth and sixth Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, as well as the former Political Leader of the People's National Movement . He served as Prime Minister from 17 December 1991 to 9 November 1995 and held that office again from 24 December 2001 until 26...
, the party returned to power in 1991 following the 1990 attempted coup by the Jamaat al-Muslimeen
Jamaat al Muslimeen coup attempt
On Friday 27 July 1990, 114 members of the Jamaat al Muslimeen, an Afro-Trinidadian Islamic organisation, led by Imam Yasin Abu Bakr and Bilaal Abdullah attempted to stage a coup d'état against the government of Trinidad and Tobago. Forty-two insurgents stormed the Red House and took the Prime...
, but lost power in 1995 to the United National Congress
United National Congress
The United National Congress is one of the two major political parties in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and one of the parties in the current ruling coalition. It was founded by Basdeo Panday, a lawyer and former trade unionist. The UNC was formed as the result of a split in the ruling...
. The PNM lost again to the UNC in the 2000 General Elections, but a split in the UNC forced new elections in 2001. These elections resulted in an 18–18 tie between the PNM and the UNC, and President Arthur N.R. Robinson
A. N. R. Robinson
Arthur Napoleon Raymond Robinson, OCC, TC was the third President of Trinidad and Tobago, serving from 19 March 1997 to 17 March 2003. He was also Trinidad and Tobago's third Prime Minister, serving in that capacity from 18 December 1986 to 17 December 1991...
appointed Manning as Prime Minister. Manning was unable to elect a Speaker of the House of Representatives
House of Representatives of Trinidad and Tobago
The House of Representatives is the elected Lower House of the bicameral Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago. The House of Representatives sits in the Red House in Port of Spain. It has 41 members, each elected to represent single-seat constituencies...
, but won an outright majority in new elections held in 2002 and again in 2007, before losing power in 2010.
The party symbol is the Balisier flower (Heliconia bihai
Heliconia bihai
Heliconia bihai of the Heliconiaceae family is an erect herb typically growing taller than 1.5 m...
) and the Party's political headquarters is known as the "Balisier House".
Rise to power
When Eric Williams returned to Trinidad in 1948 he set about to develop a political base. Between 1948 and 1955 he delivered a series of political lectures, under the auspices of the Political Education Movement (PEM) a branch of the Teachers Education and Cultural Association. On January 15, 1956 Williams launched the PNM. In the 1956 General Elections the PNM captured 13 of the 24 elected seats in the Legislative CouncilLegislative Council of Trinidad and Tobago
The Legislative Council of Trinidad and Tobago served as an advisory commission to the Governor in British-ruled Trinidad and Tobago, between 1925 and independence in 1961. The Legislative Council consisted of a mixture of appointed and elected members...
with 38.7% of the votes cast. In order to secure an outright majority in the Legislative Council Williams managed to convince the Secretary of State for the Colonies to allow him to name the five appointed members of the council (despite the opposition of the Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
Sir Edward Betham Beetham
Edward Beetham
Sir Edward "Eddy" Betham Beetham served as Governor of Trinidad and Tobago between 1955 and 1960. He presided over the transition to elected internal self-government. Beetham was the last British colonial governor. The Beetham Highway in Port of Spain is named after him....
). This gave him a clear majority in the Legislative Council. Williams was thus elected Chief Minister and was also able to get all seven of his ministers elected.
In the 1958 Federal Elections (which the PNM contested as part of the West Indies Federal Labour Party
West Indies Federal Labour Party
The West Indies Federal Labour Party was one of the two main Federal parties in the short-lived West Indies Federation. The party was the first national party of the planned West Indies Federation. It was organised by Norman Manley, Grantley Adams, V.C...
), it won four of the 10 Trinidad and Tobago seats with 47.4% of the vote. The Opposition Democratic Labour Party
Democratic Labour Party (Trinidad and Tobago)
The Democratic Labour Party was the main opposition party in Trinidad and Tobago between 1957 and 1971. The party was the party which opposed the People's National Movement at the time of Independence...
won the other six seats.
Independence era
In the 1961 General Elections the PNM won 20 of 30 seats with 58% of the vote. With the collapse of the West Indian Federation the PNM led Trinidad and Tobago to independence on August 31, 1962.In the 1966 General Elections the PNM won 24 of 36 seats with 52% of the vote. However economic and social discontent grew under PNM rule. This came to a climax in April 1970 with the Black Power Revolution
Black Power Revolution
The Black Power Revolution, also known as the "Black Power Movement", 1970 Revolution, Black Power Uprising and February Revolution, was an attempt by a number of social elements, people and interest groups in Trinidad and Tobago to force socio-political change.-History:Between 1968 and 1970 the...
. On April 13, PNM Deputy Leader and Minister of External Affairs A.N.R. Robinson
A. N. R. Robinson
Arthur Napoleon Raymond Robinson, OCC, TC was the third President of Trinidad and Tobago, serving from 19 March 1997 to 17 March 2003. He was also Trinidad and Tobago's third Prime Minister, serving in that capacity from 18 December 1986 to 17 December 1991...
resigned from the party and government. On the 20th facing a revolt by a portion of the Army in collusion with the growing Black Power
Black Power
Black Power is a political slogan and a name for various associated ideologies. It is used in the movement among people of Black African descent throughout the world, though primarily by African Americans in the United States...
movement, Williams declared a State of Emergency
State of emergency
A state of emergency is a governmental declaration that may suspend some normal functions of the executive, legislative and judicial powers, alert citizens to change their normal behaviours, or order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans. It can also be used as a rationale...
. By April 22 the mutineers had begun negotiations for surrender. Following this certain ministers were forced to resign including John O'Halloran, Minister of Industry and Gerard Montano, Minister of Home Affairs.
In the 1971 General Elections the PNM faced only limited opposition as the major opposition parties boycotted the election
Election boycott
An election boycott is the boycotting of an election by a group of voters, each of whom abstains from voting.Boycotting may be used as a form of political protest where voters feel that electoral fraud is likely, or that the electoral system is biased against its candidates, or that the polity...
citing the use of voting machines. The PNM captured all 36 seats in the election, including 8 which they carried unopposed. Additionally Williams split the post of Deputy Leader into three and appointed Kamaluddin Mohammed, Errol Mahabir and George Chambers
George Chambers
George Michael Chambers was the second Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago. Born in Port of Spain, Chambers joined the People's National Movement in 1956, and was elected to Parliament representing the St. Anns East seat...
to the position.
In 1972 J.R.F. Richardson crossed the floor and declared himself an Independent. He was subsequently appointed Leader of the Opposition
Opposition (parliamentary)
Parliamentary opposition is a form of political opposition to a designated government, particularly in a Westminster-based parliamentary system. Note that this article uses the term government as it is used in Parliamentary systems, i.e. meaning the administration or the cabinet rather than the state...
. He was soon joined by another M.P., Dr. Horace Charles.
In 1973 the PNM faced a major crisis. On September 28 Williams announced that he would not stand for re-election. This led to a race to succeed him as Political Leader of the party. By November 18 250 of 476 registered party groups had submitted nominations, 224 of them for Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
Karl Hudson-Phillips
Karl Hudson-Phillips
Karl Terrence Hudson-Phillips, ORTT, QC is a former Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago and a former judge of the International Criminal Court...
and 26 for Minister of Health, Kamaluddin Mohammed. Williams announced on the December 2 that he would return as Political Leader and Hudson-Phillips was forced out of the party.
Decline and Fall
In 1976 the PNM won 24 of 36 seats with 54% of the vote. In March 1978 Hector McClean, Minister of Works resigned from the party and government and declared himself an independent MP.On March 29, 1981 Eric Williams died. Williams had maintained an iron grip over the party and forced all potential rivals out of the party. In the absence of a clear successor, President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
Ellis Clarke
Ellis Clarke
Sir Ellis Emmanuel Innocent Clarke, TC, GCMG was the second and last Governor-General of Trinidad and Tobago and the first President of Trinidad and Tobago. Clarke was one of the main architects of Trinidad and Tobago's 1962 Independence constitution.Clarke attended Saint Mary's College, winning...
was left to choose the new Prime Minister from among the three Deputy Political Leaders of the party. Clarke appointed George Chambers
George Chambers
George Michael Chambers was the second Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago. Born in Port of Spain, Chambers joined the People's National Movement in 1956, and was elected to Parliament representing the St. Anns East seat...
Prime Minister in preference to Kamaluddin Mohammed
Kamaluddin Mohammed
Kamaluddin Mohammed, usually credited as Kamal, is a Malayali Indian film director. His first film was Mizhineer Pookkal in 1986 and to date, he has directed more than 32 movies, among which include 2 non-malayalam movies, one each in Tamil and Hindi...
and Errol Mahabir. It was widely assumed that Mohammed and Mahabir were not selected because they were Indo-Trinidadian
Indo-Trinidadian
Indo-Trinidadian and Tobagonian are nationals of Trinidad and Tobago of Indian or other South Asian ancestry.Indo-Trinidadian and Tobagonians has now become interchangeable with Indians or East Indians. These were people who were taken from India by the British either as workers or educated...
s. Chambers was subsequently elected as Political Leader of the PNM and led the party to victory in the 1981 General Elections. The PNM won 26 of 36 seats and 52% of the vote.
It subsequently held on to power until 1986 when it was defeated by the National Alliance for Reconstruction
National Alliance for Reconstruction
The National Alliance for Reconstruction was the governing party in Trinidad and Tobago between 1986 and 1991.-History:The party was established in 1986, aiming to be a multi-racial party...
(NAR) under the leadership of A.N.R. Robinson
A. N. R. Robinson
Arthur Napoleon Raymond Robinson, OCC, TC was the third President of Trinidad and Tobago, serving from 19 March 1997 to 17 March 2003. He was also Trinidad and Tobago's third Prime Minister, serving in that capacity from 18 December 1986 to 17 December 1991...
. The PNM won 3 of 36 seats with 32% of the vote. Chambers resigned and was succeeded by Patrick Manning
Patrick Manning
Patrick Augustus Mervyn Manning was the fourth and sixth Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, as well as the former Political Leader of the People's National Movement . He served as Prime Minister from 17 December 1991 to 9 November 1995 and held that office again from 24 December 2001 until 26...
as Political Leader.
Manning and The PNM re-invented
When Manning became leader he promised a 'new PNM' and purposely ignored the discredited old guard. He appointed Wendell MottleyWendell Mottley
Wendell Adrian Mottley educated at Queen's Royal College is a Trinidad and Tobago economist, politician and athlete...
, Keith Rowley and Augustus Ramrekersingh as his deputy leaders.
The PNM was returned to power in the 1991 elections after the NAR self-destructed. In the 1991 election it won 21 of 36 seats with 45% of the vote. However in the later half of that term the party became unstable. It lost one seat in a bye election and another when Ralph Maraj defected to the United National Congress
United National Congress
The United National Congress is one of the two major political parties in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and one of the parties in the current ruling coalition. It was founded by Basdeo Panday, a lawyer and former trade unionist. The UNC was formed as the result of a split in the ruling...
. The issue that led Maraj to defect was the declaration of a limited State of Emergency which sole purpose was to remove Occah Seepaul (Maraj's sister) as Speaker of the House of Representatives. The party also suffered a loss of support with the death Minister of Public Utilities, Morris Marshall, a favourite of the party grassroots. Attempting to halt the decline in party support Manning called an early 'snap election' in 1995 . Many party 'front benchers' did not seek reelection including Finance Minister Wendell Mottley
Wendell Mottley
Wendell Adrian Mottley educated at Queen's Royal College is a Trinidad and Tobago economist, politician and athlete...
.
The party lost the 1995 General Elections
Trinidad and Tobago general election, 1995
Early general elections were held in Trinidad and Tobago on 6 November 1995, after the ruling People's National Movement had seen its majority reduced to a single seat due to a defection and a lost by-election. The results saw the PNM and the United National Congress both won 17 seats...
winning 17 of 36 seats with 48% of the vote. The United National Congress
United National Congress
The United National Congress is one of the two major political parties in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and one of the parties in the current ruling coalition. It was founded by Basdeo Panday, a lawyer and former trade unionist. The UNC was formed as the result of a split in the ruling...
(UNC) under the leadership of Basdeo Panday
Basdeo Panday
Basdeo Panday was the 5th Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago from 1995 to 2001 and has served as Leader of the Opposition from 1976–1977, 1978–1986, 1989–1995 and 2001–2010. He was first elected to Parliament in 1976 as the Member for Couva North. He is the former...
also won 17 seats and formed a coalition government with the National Alliance for Reconstruction which had won the remaining 2 seats. The PNM was further weakened when two MPs resigned from the party and threw their support behind the UNC government. This led to numerous calls for Manning to resign the party leadership, and for calls for Mottley to replace him. Manning declined to resign and Mottley appeared to have taken a sabbatical from politics. When leadership elections were held in 1997 Manning was challenged by Keith Rowley
Keith Rowley
Dr. Keith Christopher Rowley is the Member of the House of Representatives for Diego Martin West in the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago. A geologist by training, Dr. Rowley has been the representative for Diego Martin West since 1991....
. Manning was returned as Political Leader.
In 2000 the PNM suffered another defeat, winning 16 of 36 seats with 46% of the vote. Another election was held in 2001 which resulted in a tie with both the PNM and UNC winning 18 seats, the PNM with 46% of the electoral vote and the UNC with 50%. However President Arthur N.R. Robinson
A. N. R. Robinson
Arthur Napoleon Raymond Robinson, OCC, TC was the third President of Trinidad and Tobago, serving from 19 March 1997 to 17 March 2003. He was also Trinidad and Tobago's third Prime Minister, serving in that capacity from 18 December 1986 to 17 December 1991...
appointed Manning as Prime Minister because the PNM had more representative that went up on a PNM ticket.(In Trinidad and Tobago's elections, the amount of seats needed to occupy the lower house is really the best indicator of whether or not a party would win elections). Unable to elect a Speaker, Manning advised the President to prorogue Parliament. On October 7, 2002 General Elections were held in which the PNM won 50.7% of popular votes and 20 out of 36 seats.
The last PNM administration had been plagued with a sharp increase in violent crime, controversy regarding appointments and the issue of broadcast licenses, dictatorial tendencies, and allegations of incompetence, corruption
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
and nepotism
Nepotism
Nepotism is favoritism granted to relatives regardless of merit. The word nepotism is from the Latin word nepos, nepotis , from which modern Romanian nepot and Italian nipote, "nephew" or "grandchild" are also descended....
. Among the issues are:
- A sharp increase in kidnappingKidnappingIn criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person's will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment, a confinement without legal authority...
s and other crime. Manning stated that he did not believe that the kidnapping situation was as much a big problem as the press tried to make it, since it was believed that most kidnappings were actually payment to drug lords. - Appointment of Manning's wife, Hazel ManningHazel ManningHazel Anne Marie Manning was a Trinidad and Tobago politician. She entered the Senate as a People's National Movement Senator after the 2001 election. Senator Manning served as Minister of Education of Trinidad and Tobago and subsequently as Minister of Local Government...
, as a SenatorSenate of Trinidad and TobagoThe Senate of Trinidad and Tobago is the appointed Upper House of the bicameral Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago. The Senate sits in the Red House in Port of Spain...
and Minister of Education. Mrs. Manning had no political experience, and an appointment like this was without precedent in Trinidad and Tobago politics. It must be understood, though, that Hazel ManningHazel ManningHazel Anne Marie Manning was a Trinidad and Tobago politician. She entered the Senate as a People's National Movement Senator after the 2001 election. Senator Manning served as Minister of Education of Trinidad and Tobago and subsequently as Minister of Local Government...
is otherwise a well qualified person to be a senator. - The allegation by PNM Councillor Dansam Dhansook that he paid bribes to Minister of Works, Franklin KhanFranklin KhanFranklin Khan is a Trinidad and Tobago politician and former Member of Parliament for Ortoire-Mayaro and Chairman of the ruling People's National Movement....
and Minister of Energy, Eric A. WilliamsEric A. WilliamsEric A. Williams was until November, 2007 a Trinidad and Tobago politician and was Member of Parliament for Port of Spain South. Until his resignation from the Cabinet in January 2006, he served as the Minister of Energy and Energy Industries in the then People's National Movement government a...
. One year after receiving the letter Manning reportedly has not yet acted on it. After the matter was made public, Khan resigned his ministerial portfolio. On November 23, 2005, Khan, who is also party chairman, was arrested and charged with six counts of misbehaviour in public office. This was the first time a Trinidad and Tobago politician was charged with corruption while his party was still in power. Franklin Khan was later absolved of all charges. - The allegation that Housing Minister, Keith RowleyKeith RowleyDr. Keith Christopher Rowley is the Member of the House of Representatives for Diego Martin West in the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago. A geologist by training, Dr. Rowley has been the representative for Diego Martin West since 1991....
received bribes in connection with the award of contracts for the construction of the ScarboroughScarborough, TobagoScarborough, Tobago is the largest town in Tobago, one of the two main islands of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Its population is around 17,000, almost one-third of the population of the island. The town is dominated by Fort King George, an 18th century fortification named after King George...
Hospital. A Commission of Enquiry was completed and cleared Keith Rowley of all allegations. - Two other senior PNM officials are before the Integrity Commission. In addition, on June 10, 2005 UNC MP Kamla Persad-BissessarKamla Persad-BissessarKamla Persad-Bissessar is the Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the seventh person to hold this position...
alleged that the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Drug Enforcement AdministrationDrug Enforcement AdministrationThe Drug Enforcement Administration is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Justice, tasked with combating drug smuggling and use within the United States...
(DEA) was investigating three government Ministers.
A more objective evaluation of these developments however, indicates that accusations of corruption were also made against the former government of Basdeo Panday
Basdeo Panday
Basdeo Panday was the 5th Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago from 1995 to 2001 and has served as Leader of the Opposition from 1976–1977, 1978–1986, 1989–1995 and 2001–2010. He was first elected to Parliament in 1976 as the Member for Couva North. He is the former...
. Race is often well spoken about when referring to the party as the vast majority of the members are of African descent.
2007 Elections
In the 5 November 2007 parliamentaryHouse of Representatives of Trinidad and Tobago
The House of Representatives is the elected Lower House of the bicameral Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago. The House of Representatives sits in the Red House in Port of Spain. It has 41 members, each elected to represent single-seat constituencies...
elections
Trinidad and Tobago general election, 2007
General elections were held in Trinidad and Tobago on 5 November 2007. Nomination day was 15 October.The parties contesting the election were the incumbent People's National Movement, the official opposition United National Congress–Alliance , the Congress of the People , the Tobago United...
, the party won 45.85 % and 26 out of 41 seats.
2010 Elections
On April 16, 2010 via a press release, Patrick ManningPatrick Manning
Patrick Augustus Mervyn Manning was the fourth and sixth Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, as well as the former Political Leader of the People's National Movement . He served as Prime Minister from 17 December 1991 to 9 November 1995 and held that office again from 24 December 2001 until 26...
, the party's leader, called for General Elections
Trinidad and Tobago general election, 2010
A general election was held in Trinidad and Tobago on May 24, 2010. The date of the general elections was announced by Prime Minister Patrick Manning on April 16, 2010, via a press release. The election was called over two years earlier than required by law...
to be held on the 24th of May, 2010 over two years before the law required elections to be held because he was about to face a no confidence vote in parliament because of all theallegations of corruption and this no confodence vote would probably not have came out on his favour so he decided to let the people decide who they want as their leader and because of this the party suffered a resounding defeat being only able to hold on to 12 seats while a coalition led by the UNC's political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar
Kamla Persad-Bissessar
Kamla Persad-Bissessar is the Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the seventh person to hold this position...
won 29 of the 41 seats in Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
. On 27 May 2010, Manning resigned as Political Leader of the party and currently Dr. Keith Rowley
Keith Rowley
Dr. Keith Christopher Rowley is the Member of the House of Representatives for Diego Martin West in the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago. A geologist by training, Dr. Rowley has been the representative for Diego Martin West since 1991....
is Political Leader.
Party Leaders
- Eric WilliamsEric WilliamsEric Eustace Williams served as the first Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago. He served from 1956 until his death in 1981. He was also a noted Caribbean historian, and is widely regarded as "The Father of The Nation."...
(1956–1981) - George ChambersGeorge ChambersGeorge Michael Chambers was the second Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago. Born in Port of Spain, Chambers joined the People's National Movement in 1956, and was elected to Parliament representing the St. Anns East seat...
(1981–1986) - Patrick ManningPatrick ManningPatrick Augustus Mervyn Manning was the fourth and sixth Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, as well as the former Political Leader of the People's National Movement . He served as Prime Minister from 17 December 1991 to 9 November 1995 and held that office again from 24 December 2001 until 26...
(1987–2010) - Keith RowleyKeith RowleyDr. Keith Christopher Rowley is the Member of the House of Representatives for Diego Martin West in the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago. A geologist by training, Dr. Rowley has been the representative for Diego Martin West since 1991....
(2010–)