Moontown

Prime Minister Patrick Manning appears to be considering going back to the polls, sources say. The question however is when and what poll-local, general or both.

The Political Leader of the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) Patrick Manning summoned his troops-constituency members, area managers, constituency executives-to a meeting at El Dorado East Secondary yesterday. The meeting, which was well attended, saw hundreds of persons from all 41 constituencies.

Sources said party Chairman, Conrad Enill ended the party with an exhortation to all present to get ready so that whenever the opportunity presents itself the Political Leader can call an election. The next meeting is carded for January 16.

This is the second such meeting, the first was held at Cascadia hotel earlier this year. Manning delivered an address in which he contended that issues such as government’s construction programme which its mega-projects, UDeCOTT and the property tax, which engaged the attention of the media, were not areas of major public concern. Rather it was the provision of basic needs such as water, drains and the need for homes, which occupied the mind of the electorate.

The PM also set out ground rules such as how to raise funds, how the area managers should perform among other matters.

Also addressing the meeting was former Culture Minister and Ambassador Plenipotentary Joan Yuille Williams.

Manning called a snap poll once before-in 1995. But the PNM lost office. On that occasion the PNM faced a single, united opposition. This is not the case today-the Opposition is fragmented and the official Opposition, is facing an important internal election. -RT (Trinidad Express)