March 16, 2022
The Honourable Dr. Keith Christopher Rowley, MP
Prime Minister, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Office of the Prime Minister
29 Maraval Road
Port of Spain
Ref: Urgent request for the intervention of the Prime Minister in resolving a constitutional crisis in Pan Trinbago that degrades and threatens the democratic principles and fabric of our Parliamentary Republic.
Dear Prime Minister,
We are writing to you requesting your intervention in resolving a major dispute that has resulted in a violation of the constitutional rights of members of Pan Trinbago. We are contacting you as Prime Minister, recognizing that you are the head of the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, and Pan Trinbago is a state supported entity that receives funds from the national treasury. We believe that our government has an obligation to ensure that all state supported entities adhere to the principles of democracy, comply with their established constitution, operate with the highest standards of transparency and good governance, and safeguard the constitutional rights of its members.
There is currently a crisis situation existing in Pan Trinbago, where former elected members of the executive, led by Mrs. Beverley Ramsey Moore, is refusing to vacate the office after the end of their duly elected term of office. The constitution of Pan Trinbago clearly states that a Convention shall be convened once every three calendar years during the period September 1st to October 31st to determine general policy of the Association and to elect members to the Central Executive Committee. The constitution further states that members of the Central Executive Committee shall hold office for a term of three (3) years, such term to be computed from the date of their election to office and each member shall hold office until his removal from office or until the next convention, whichever is sooner.
Pan Trinbago last held a convention and elections on 28th October 2018, with those elected to office for a three year term that expired on 27th October 2021. An executive team led by Mrs. Beverley Ramsey Moore was elected during that term and was responsible for convening a convention and holding elections no later than 27th October 2021. Three executive members elected at that time, Carlan Harewood Vice President, Gerard Mendez Treasurer and Sandra Awai Public Relations Officer resigned during their term of office, citing abuse of power and a loss of confidence in the then President Mrs. Beverley Ramsey Moore. A fourth executive member, Dane Gulston External relations Officer, completed his duly elected term and notified the membership on November 5, 2021 that he had vacated his position on the executive, as his elected term of office ended on October 27, 2021. By refusing to schedule and hold constitutionally mandated elections, those executive members that remained in office at that time violated the constitution and denied the membership their constitutional right to elect a new Executive Team to manage the affairs of the association.
By letter dated 20th September 2021, the Secretary of Pan Trinbago informed the membership that a decision was taken by the executive to postpone the 2021 convention and elections, citing Public Health Regulations as the reason. This arbitrary decision to postpone a constitutionally mandated convention and elections was taken without consultation with, and the approval of the general membership, the supreme decision making body of the association. This violation of the constitutional rights of members and total disregard for the principles of democracy were brought to the attention of Mr. Colin Lucas, CEO of NCC, Mr. Winston Peters, Chairman of NCC, Honourable Terrance Deyalsingh, Minister of Health and Honourable Randall Mitchell, Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts in an email letter dated 1 st October 2021. It was hoped that bringing this matter to the attention of these major stakeholders and requesting an intervention on behalf of Pan Trinbago members would have remedied this situation. Unfortunately, there was no acknowledgement to our correspondence, and to date we have not received a response.
We trust that our appeal to you would be viewed as a matter of urgency, and that our issue would be regarded as a serious breach of the fundamental rights of citizens in our democratic society. As such, we continue to believe that our first responsibility continues to be the protection and promotion of our democracy. A large cross section of our membership continue to feel violated, as the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, NCC and the local Press continue to recognize, fund and support Mrs. Beverley Ramsey Moore and the illegitimate team of executives currently managing the affairs of Pan Trinbago, as though they were duly elected by the membership..
We have enclosed copies of previously issued correspondence regarding this matter and look forward to your intervention and a resolution to this matter.
Respectfully,
| Carlan Harewood (732-0857) Former Vice President Pan Trinbago Inc. T.C. |
Dane Gulston (758-2902) Former External Relations Officer Pan Trinbago Inc. T.C. |
Gerard Mendez (767-5521) Former Treasurer Pan Trinbago Inc. T.C. |
| Robert Hernandez (797-5887) Former Secretary Northern Region Pan Trinbago |
Earl Morris (728-9720) Former Vice Chairman Northern Region Pan Trinbago |
Replies
PNM leadership under watch: Toco/Grande election officer says discontent on the ground
Guardian March 19, 2022
"Election officer of the Toco Sangre/Grande constituency executive John Mason is calling on Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to step aside as political leader of the People's National Movement (PNM) in the upcoming internal elections."
Read More
Though Mendez, Hernandez and the others are on a different team from mine, I must give them kudos for continuously belling the cat. Doing and saying things 90% of the members want to but afraid. Despite all that Mr. Claude Gonzales said about Dr. Rowley, I am sure that the Dr would step in and show that he and his government do not condone support for illegal entities with state funds.
TOBAGO FOR TOBAGO, MR. ARRINDELL!!!
What SOUTH PEOPLE know about TRINIDAD and TOBAGO POLITICS?
TOBAGO FOR TOBAGO -- ROWLEY WILL NEVER GO AGAINST ANOTHER TOBAGONIAN LIKE BEVERLEY.
Like all the FELLAHS who put dey name on that letter COME FROM GRENADA ON A BOAT, OR WHAT. Dem is not REAL TRINIDADIANS. I guess that I am THE ONLY REAL TRINIDADIAN left in THIS WORLD ... when will allyuh UNDERSTAND THE POLITICS of TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO.
Allyuh remember how VOCAL Farley was before the election and in its IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH ... ONE MEETING WITH ROWLEY and look how QUIET HE GET!!!
Well I am JUST ABOUT to lose my mind that PAN PEOPLE understand SO LITTLE about POLITICS IN TRINIDAD.
KEITH ROWLEY is under SIEGE AND SOBOTAGE from within his OWN PARTY right now. So the last thing on his mind is PAN BACCHANAL. He promised his INNER CIRCLE that this was going to be his last term in office -- but things went so badly for him that he wants a REDO -- a second chance ... with his hopes for an OIL BOOM to salvage his legacy. Even though he went to the WORLD CONFERENCE ON RENEWABLE ENERGY and told them that he was 100% renewable and against FOSSIL FUELS. Well, they were giving out plenty money to the RENEWABLE ENERGY BELIEVERS and since he had OVER-BORROWED over the last 7 years -- any port to borrow against a storm ... even IRAN.
Well when the CONTENDERS in waiting hear that ROWLEY eh leaving in 2025 and he running again ... hatred and POLITICAL AMBITION STALLED broke out. And a PNM INSIDER released some pictures of ROWLEY'S outside WOMAN and CHILDREN that he has been supporting with TAX PAYERS DOLLARS for years now ... all hell broke loose within the UPPER ECHELONS of the party and RESHUFFLE and REPOSITIONING went into FULL EFFECT.
So with that internal PNM WAR going on ... do these IMPLANTS ABOVE really believe that ROWLEY give a damn about PAN TRINBAGO POLITICS when he is fighting for his own political survival. Or that he would cut a TOBAGO WOMAN THROAT to please them.
Boy, allyuh LIVING IN TRINIDAD and allyuh eh know NOTHING about TRINIDAD POLITICS. Or should I say PNM POLITICS. Man really wasting dey time writing letter to ROWLEY when that man have his own CROSS TO BEAR as the nation sits on an ECONOMIC BREAK POINT that could destroy everything that was ever BEAUTIFUL ABOUT THAT ISLAND.