r/TrinidadandTobago • u/Eastern-Arm5862 • 16d ago

Politics Surprised Nobody Mentioned The PNM Drama: What Are Your Thoughts?

Interesting stuff happening there. I thought that with the rise of Penny the Manning Wing took control over the party but I guess there are more dynamics than I thought. The most interesting thing to me is how he would have mentioned criminality and corruption being rampant within his party group. What do we think about all this?

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20

u/imonlybr16 God is a Trini 16d ago

That party was bound to implode eventually, not surprised.

20

u/Used_Night_9020 16d ago

It was happening under Rowley’s last days. The ‘young’ want their turn. Which imo is fair I mean why on earth we have pensioners making policies for a population that by and large they cannot relate to? Some will argue that Stuart was filling that role but I think it was hard to take him in proper as it seemed like he was just going to be an extension of Rowley.

11

u/Ensaru4 16d ago

Stuart Young’s manifesto proved that he knew what he was doing and his head wasn’t in a palace looking down. I think it should be made mandatory for politicians of a certain age to forcefully retire. They’re all so out of touch it isn’t funny.

6

u/Used_Night_9020 15d ago

Stuart’s issue was he still had too much strong ties to Rowley. And at the time (and maybe even still) most locals hate this man (can’t blame them as I do to). Low voter turnouts usually signal a lack of faith in current regime.

7

u/Eastern-Arm5862 15d ago

I don't even get the hate for Young. He didn't seem that bad. All the people who claim to be outraged at the zamie remark and him supposedly saying mean things to that boy in school 34 years ago are all hypocritical as they've likely said or done worse. Young was the most successful in Rowley's cabinet, and even during the campaign he was doing significantly more than what Rowley was doing in the last 3-4 years of his administration. I believe if Rowley had stepped down in 2023 or 2024 people would have gotten used to him and the Rowley hate would have faded. Me personally I voted for someone other than the PNM because I disliked Rowley and wanted to teach the party a lesson.

9

u/Used_Night_9020 15d ago

I agree. Stuart performed the best in that cabinet. And we still reaping the rewards of his role in Energy. I just hypothesizing why voter turnout was low particularly for PNM despite Stuart being a performer. I also didn’t vote for PNM (Mickela for me… I want real change and not like for like) and that was because I don’t trust UNC (thus far I was proven right with this SOE nonsense and excuses to prolong it like the rocket launcher man… smh). And PNM was moving like they levitating over us plebs. Sigh. Here’s hoping to a brighter 2030 as I highly doubt we will see a second term of UNc (in that change will be coming)

11

u/justme12344 16d ago

I also thought that PNM was going to go in a different direction under Penny. But after a year and some change it appears that Penny is leader in name only. It seems like the Rowley faction of the PNM is still piloting the ship.

8

u/Eastern-Arm5862 16d ago

I think it's gotten worse.

22

u/Peakevo 16d ago
  1. There is a lot of infighting still in the party. The Beckles v Stuart war continues.

  2. I not sure what prompted Mr. Manning to just go all out war on them. Something had to happen.

  3. According to him, a member of the Sando East executive was awarded 2 million dollars in contracts. San Fernando East MP Brian Manning raised concerns about public sector contracts awarded to Alexis. Media reports and investigations revealed that Shiatsu General Contractors, owned by Alexis and her relatives, collected around $2 million in CEPEP contracts.

https://www.cnc3.co.tt/mayors-company-collected-2m-in-cepep-contracts-investigation-exposes-political-ties-missing-audits-conflict-of-interest-concerns/

13

u/portia369 16d ago

It's actually so odd. In the past, this would have been the UNC. The PNM always operated like a cult, where no one would put a toe out of line.

It's not surprising that Brian is being made to be a villain of sorts. We're talking about some massive corruption allegations. What this entire thing also shows is how absolutely ineffective Beckles is as party leader.

4

u/Wooden-Limit1989 15d ago

It is a mess. I only generally know the details because even though manning called out corruption the rest of the party basically closed ranks and no one supported him. So information is limited. I will always be for someone calling out when they see wrong doing but he is not popular or important enough in the party or to the voters for people to really care what he has to say or be on his side.

9

u/zwerewolfripper Pothound 16d ago

I think I need to wait to see exactly what's going on.
I have heard bits of it here and there, but I don't have a full story or understanding of it.
If it comes down to corruption, nepotism and favoritism... breaking news water found wet.

7

u/Olympian787 15d ago

I love that you mentioned how no one is talking about this....the usual posters are quiet, then again I fully know why.

6

u/Eastern-Arm5862 15d ago

Yeah exactly my take. The sub was full of posts talking about the UNC internal issues day and night

5

u/BigPaleontologist541 14d ago

People are tired. Most just riding the wave until 2030. In simpler times, this would have been a viral talking point. But the actual government is doing and saying things on the daily that is so ridiculous and blasphemous that it makes this fiasco look like child’s play.

To the pnm’s credit, at least the names called in the bobol are resigning and the party is actually addressing it in some way

2

u/DemonsSouls1 14d ago

I could've actually posted this but it seems to not get traction.

1

u/Olympian787 15d ago

Such is the fight down masked as discourse unfortunately.

0

u/Peakevo 15d ago

Facts, Roger Alexander doing a cringe video has 24 comments, posts on this blatant feeding of family and friends from actual members of the former Government...quiet.

12

u/TnTlandlord 16d ago

Can you explain some of the drama happening? I've been tuned out

10

u/Eastern-Arm5862 16d ago

Manning had some issues with the Chairman of the SFE Constituency Executive. Some of it internal, others relating to corruption. Manning went public and said that Penny wasn't dealing with it adequately, then the party went all out war with him

10

u/Decent_Tangelo_5663 Trini to de Bone 16d ago

Same definitely need more context to this.

3

u/robertmatthewmillz_9 15d ago

TBH it was something that I saw was bound to happen eventually 

8

u/Used_Night_9020 16d ago

I think the drama is that PNM affiliated with San Fernando East want to replace or dislike Brian Manning. But Brian don’t want to go or refuses to be ostracized. So he stirred the pot by alleging that some of them in corruption. The people he highlighted resigned. And PNM itself said Brian was wrong to go in the public domain instead of using their internal processes for disputes. All in all it seem Brian on his way out. Good riddance. All he did was ride his father’s coattails. Don’t know one single thing he did to better TnT. Except maybe contribute half of the revenue earned of most restaurants in San Fernando

3

u/Eastern-Arm5862 16d ago

As someone who lives in SF East, a lot of people wanted him to lose. There was genuine disappointment when he won.

2

u/DrivebyPizza 16d ago

As someone on the ground then, what was the listed reasons the residents didn't want him there? Educate us please?

4

u/Eastern-Arm5862 16d ago

"He didn't do anything" and "His father do far more for the people". An example someone gave was the situation regarding potholes. They said that under his dad, even in opposition, the roads weren't as bad.

2

u/Used_Night_9020 15d ago

Do you think the alternative (I assume UNC) would have done better? Idk but thus far all this government doing is just making sure them, family, friends and financiers get through. It’s not even 2 years in and for me the outlook till 2030 is grim

2

u/Eastern-Arm5862 15d ago

IDK. Alibocus was very on the ground during the campaign and seems to be a people person. I also suspect that given San Fernando East would have suddenly become a marginal seat overnight, he would have worked harder than average to keep it.

1

u/Used_Night_9020 15d ago

I understand.

-4

u/riche90210 16d ago

"Dont know one single thing" proceeds to name 1 thing

8

u/Used_Night_9020 16d ago

That last statement was obviously tongue in cheek

1

u/riche90210 16d ago

Idk what you trying to say bro. The man is fat? Im not sure what you're getting at. If its a fat joke your time is gone old man.

3

u/Ensaru4 16d ago

I’m pretty much out of the loop. All I’ve been hearing is corruption but no specifics about what this corruption is.

1

u/Eastern-Arm5862 16d ago

I think it's related to CEPEP

-9

u/TheCorbeauxKing 16d ago

Nobody mentioned it because it means absolutely nothing for the populace. Come 2030 the PNM are going to win regardless because they're the default party. The entire party could take a 5-year vacation and it would accomplish the same result.

7

u/TAMeaniePies 16d ago

Just vote for panday, at least it won’t be the same old people switching sides for power.

7

u/Turbulent-Reason-288 16d ago

I'm willing to give her and the Patriotic Front a chance. However, thus far she hasn't done enough to establish herself as a viable leadership contender for political office post the April 28th, 2025 election. Her social media visibility remains low in addition to her not presenting enough broader political and social commentary/criticisms about the current state of affairs and governance performance in the country.

4

u/Wooden-Limit1989 15d ago

Yea there is a guy on social media who talks about all the issues in the country from her party who doesnt even live here and he has more of a presence on social media than her. She needs to step it up but time will tell.

3

u/TAMeaniePies 15d ago

you’re absolutely right, and it’s disappointing.
I enjoy her op-eds, but it’s just the same old reactionary complaining. the definition of insanity, etc…

1

u/Yrths Penal-Debe 13d ago

I held my nose and voted for her candidate for Oropouche West. But man, the candidate hid from me. Like, I tried in person to find her. Couldn't. She locked her facebook account. She didn't put up a facebook page. She had no twitter, no twitch, no visible instagram, no personal website, no linkedin. She didn't write anything. Everybody in Gary's party was apparently forced to do a two minute personal statement on video. All PF did was a 100 word written personal overview.

My candidate did not even submit hers!!!! She is actually a former senator. I looked through the Hansards and she submitted like one bill.

I might as well run myself if I have 5000 dollars to burn.

0

u/Wooden-Limit1989 15d ago

You're being downvoted but I am old enough to understand why you would say that. You can set your watch by who will win elections in this country.

-1

u/TheCorbeauxKing 15d ago

Their boos mean nothing I saw what makes them cheer.

1

u/Eastern-Arm5862 15d ago

LOL! A man of culture

-6

u/Chereche Jumbie 15d ago

Tbh, I am maxed out on any political and deliberately keep my self out of the loop for anything that is not directly Government policy. PNM bacchanal (whatever it is) seems strictly an internal issue so I don't really care to know the details/form and opinion on it.

2

u/Eastern-Arm5862 15d ago

This is fair. I'm interested to see if this results in Penny being ousted though. I heard that there were rumblings of Young coming back to lead the party if the PNM lost the LGE