PNM does not hate Indians...Rowley

PNM does not hate Indians

By SEAN DOUGLAS Friday, January 10 2014

OPPOSITION and People’s National Movement (PNM) Leader Dr Keith Rowley denied claims that the PNM does not welcome East Indians into its fold and said these allegations are being broadcast over the radio airwaves by a disaffected PNM member who bears a grudge after not being given a lucrative contract to computerise the party’s membership list.

When contacted yesterday by Newsday, the so-called disaffected PNM member said he was in a meeting and could not comment but promised to address Rowley’s charges at an Arima meeting of the lobby group, “To Preserve The Balisier”, which was due to be held last night.

Alleging that this disaffected PNM member ducked the PNM’s Divali celebration in St Joseph last year but is now alleging the PNM hates and ignores East Indians, Rowley asked, “Who is he working for?”

He urged the East Indian community to ignore this PNM members’ remarks. Saying while he welcomes any challenge to his leadership, Rowley added he won’t allow the PNM’s history to be misrepresented in such a vulgar way. He said the party’s progress in the recent local elections proved it welcomes people of all ethnic persuasions including East Indians.

Rowley spoke for 69 minutes on Wednesday night at a PNM meeting at Malabar Phase IV Community Centre in the constituency of D’Abadie/O’Meara which is currently held by the Congress of the People’s (COP) Anil Roberts.

This was Rowley’s third public meeting this week and is seen as trying to galvanise support ahead of the upcoming PNM internal elections where his post as leader comes up for election.

Rowley’s leadership, got ringing endorsements from PNM labour officer Jennifer Baptiste- Primus who hailed him for seeking a fresh mandate one year before his term expires and Arima councillor Anthony Garcia, both of whom who spoke at the meeting.

Rowley said any member of the party has the right to contest any office, at the election, once they are members in good standing. He urged that no contestant be denigrated. He said an election will not hurt the party but will for the first time ever, let individual members directly elect their leaders.