Resolution expected in PNM Tobago impasse

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Yesterday PNM officials said the party’s Tobago Council is likely to have a media briefing or make some announcement regarding a resolution of the impasse with Tobago House of Assembly (THA) chief secretary Kelvin Charles.

He has refused to step down from the THA post after he lost the Tobago PNM leadership election to Tracey Davidson- Celestine recently.

Some THA Assemblymen had recently contemplated seeking a special sitting to discuss a no-confidence motion against Charles. But PNM executive officials had a phone conversation with Charles last Monday and it was said that he was being given some room towards getting the situation resolved.

Last Friday a spokesman from among those involved with the projected motion, told the Trinidad Guardian, there was no date “yet’ regarding the expected sitting.

Last weekend, PNM leadership officials went to Tobago and had talked last Saturday with players in the issues including the new Tobago leader, Charles and candidates from the recent PNM Tobago internal poll. Following that, it was indicated that the situation was likely to be resolved and some official word would come by tomorrow, Wednesday.

Yesterday, some PNM officials said, “Everyone discussed the situation last weekend in Tobago, leadership officials gave advice, so we expect it will be completed.”

As a result, a meeting Tobago Council members had planned to have on Monday night to discuss Tobago matters – including the impasse- was expected to be shelved, they added.

There’s also been debate in the PNM on conversations which Davidson-Celestine reportedly made in an interview before the THA’s election – that former THA leader Orville London remained until the end of his term and Charles took leadership after that and she’d have assumed THA leadership after THA’s term ends early next year.

But yesterday PNM officials noted London and Charles’ situation was different. They said London stayed on until the end of his tenure as he was retiring and he did not contest the THA elections.