People's National Movement

The People's National Movement is the present-day ruling 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 totally 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, but lost power in 1995 to the United National Congress in the face of rising crime and allegations of corruption and mismanagement. The PNM lost 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. As before, crime rates have increased sharply and five senior members of the party are currently under investigation for corruption.

The party symbol is the Balisier flower ("Heliconia bihai") 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 Council 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.

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. 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.

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 and independent MP.

On the 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-Trinidadians. Chambers was subsequently was 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.

Fall and Rise: 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 Mottley, 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 ws 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, due to the fact that 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. In October 7, 2002 General Elections were held in which the PNM won 50.7% of popular votes and 20 out of 36 seats.

The current administration has been plagued with a sharp increase in violent crime, controversy regardling appointments and the issue of broadcast licenses, and allegations of incompetence, corruption and nepotism. Among the issues are:
* A sharp increase in kidnappings 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. National Security Minister, Martin Joseph has also said that he did not think that crime was a big problem.
* Appointment of Manning's wife, Hazel Manning, as a Senator 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 Manning 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 Khan and Minister of Energy, Eric A. Williams. 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.
* The allegation that Housing Minister, Keith Rowley received bribes in connection with the award of contracts for the construction of the Scarborough Hospital.
* Two other senior PNM officials are before the Integrity Commission. In addition, on June 10, 2005 UNC MP Kamla Persad-Bissessar alleged that the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (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. The former prime minister has also been convicted of fraud, and he is currently out on bail due to health reasons.

2007 elections

In the 5 November 2007 parliamentary elections, the party won 45.85 % and 26 out of 41 seats [See for more information Trinidad and Tobago general election, 2007.] .

Party Leaders

* Eric Williams (1956-1981)
* George Chambers (1981-1986)
* Patrick Manning (1987- )

External links

* [http://www.pnmtt.org PNM Website]

References