Yesterday’s PNM Moruga-Tableland constituency executive election was postponed to Tuesday after members protested over alleged voting list “irregularities” and a party group chairman was allegedly attacked at the venue.
This was confirmed by Moruga officials who spoke to the T&T Guardian from the Fifth Company Baptist School hall, where the executive’s AGM was being held. Later, PNM elections officer Indar Parasram briefly confirmed the postponement but gave no details.
Party Group 26 chairman Anton Lynch said he and his family went to the AGM, where he met a lot of quarrelling between divided sides in the executive. He said he was able to restore some calm and it was agreed by the presiding officer that two independent people would be sent to Moruga to sort out alleged irregularities reported and the AGM would be held next week.
However, Lynch claimed after the meeting ended, when people were departing and he was leaving, he was allegedly dealt blows by three other PNM persons.
“It was plenty lash ... big bacchanal, I had to run for my life after, as I was told it ‘didn’t end’ there ... I never saw that kind of mob situation before here.”
Speaking from the Princes Town Health Facility, where he’d sought treatment Lynch said he reported the matter to the police.
Other Moruga constituency officials said tempers flared during the 5 pm meeting following loud complaints by members. Some cited issues within the executive with certain incumbent officials. A source said members complained that some people paid dues but their names were not on the voting list and there were also allegations of “ghost party groups” by certain senior executive officials.
Members were told two independent persons from Balisier House would attend to the matter to sort out the alleged irregularities and do over the AGM.
Issues in PNM’s Moruga unit were raised in a letter recently sent to PNM general secretary Foster Cummings by a constituency executive official, giving a detailed account of issues with party groups’ nomination forms for the constituency.
The official said he’d raised complaints concerning the conduct of a senior executive official during party group elections “which have been contrary to constitutional provisions.”
The letter stated that party groups had paid their dues and complied with all necessary requirements to be legally recognised.
“These groups have been part of the PNM for many years. Denying them their constitutional rights due to an internal conflict between executive members could have serious repercussions as we prepare for upcoming general election,” the official’s letter noted.
Moruga executive chairman Anson Allen, who was sworn in as a Princes Town Regional Corporation alderman yesterday, said he didn’t know what the letter was about and didn’t comment on the complaints or issues at yesterday’s AGM.
Cummings and PNM PRO Faris Al-Rawi didn’t reply to texted queries last evening.