Tobago House of Assembly Chief Secretary Orville London says ’one would have to be very naïve to think’ that if there is ’a total fallout’ between Prime Minister Patrick Manning and Diego Martin West MP Dr Keith Rowley, there would not be ’some repercussions’ for the ruling party.
’One would have to be naïve but I think that one of the things that we’ve learned in politics is that we cannot personalise political decisions,’ London said.
And the People’s National Movement’s chairman, Energy Minister Conrad Enill yesterday confirmed that the Manning/Rowley rift which was openly displayed in the Parliament last week, was discussed during the Cabinet’s meeting in Tobago on Thursday.
Both London and Enill spoke on the issue during a news conference after the PNM’s General Council meeting held at the Mt Irving Bay Hotel in Tobago yesterday.
Acknowledging concerns within the PNM about the growing rift between Rowley, his fellow Tobagonian, and Manning, London expressed confidence that the situation would be resolved with maturity and professionalism.
’It is not just between Mr Manning and Dr Rowley, it is really about the political party to which you belong, it is about the kind of policies, the kind of philosophy and, therefore, it has transcended personalities ,’ London said.
Manning, the PNM political leader, chaired yesterday’s general council meeting. Rowley did not attend the meeting.
Enill said the ’matter of Dr Rowley’ did not come up at the General Council meeting.
While it did not discuss the Manning/Rowley rift, the PNM General Council did agree to have its party officials, led by their respective MPs ’go into the constituencies’ and ’to understand the issues’ of concern and ensure the party’s position on key issues is better understood as questions having arisen as to the strength of the support the ruling party has across the nation today.
’The party will always be concerned about any comments that suggest that we are not communicating as well as it should be and therefore it is in that context we are seeking to ensure that those comments can be dealt with,’ Enill said.
