THIS is an open letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives Wade Mark.

Mr Speaker, the Minister of National Security Jack Warner, made a statement in the House of Representatives on March 8 that the People's National Movement (PNM) was involved in a clandestine meeting to destabilise the country at the home of a citizen in St Joseph.

Mr Speaker, I write on behalf of the People's National Movement to correct the parliamentary records relating to the serious and damaging allegations levelled against the party by the Minister of National Security, the Honourable Member of Parliament for Chaguanas West, Jack Warner, in the House of Representatives.

Since the PNM was launched in January 1956, the party has contested every general election and formed the government for 25 consecutive years, in the first instance, and also in the periods 1991 to 1995, 2001-2002 and from 2002 to 2010.

In every instance the party has functioned in accordance with both the letter and spirit of the Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago. When we lost the general elections in 1986, 1995 and 2010, we demitted office in a peaceful and respectful manner without any acrimony or threat to the country's democracy.

Today, as the country's official Opposition in Parliament, we have discharged our responsibility in an orderly and respectful manner, in the interest of the people of Trinidad and Tobago and in the democratic traditions which we have inculcated in the people of Trinidad and Tobago.

On behalf of the political leader, Dr Keith Rowley, the chairman, members of the executive, members of the party as a whole, and indeed our supporters both home and abroad, I can state categorically no meeting of the PNM or gathering of officers took place in the locations mentioned and included any of the persons mentioned by the MP for Chaguanas West. The party wishes to denounce the outrageous slander and downright falsehood of the Minister of National Security made against the People's National Movement.

Therefore, I wish to place on the record of the Parliament that the PNM has never, and will never be involved or be a party to any subversive activity which is aimed at destabilising our beloved country.

Ashton Ford

General Secretary, PNM