Pan Trinbago in disarray againBy Lara Pickford-Gordon Sunday, December 2 2012
PAN TRINBAGO’S membership is in uproar once again. This time it is because regional elections, called for last Wednesday, failed to take place due to lack of quorums and decisions taken by the central executive against candidates vying for positions. The decision has caused anger among membership in the regions because they only found out about the move by the central executive on the day of the elections.
In an interview on Friday, Vernon Morancie, incumbent chairman of the Eastern Region, said a joint statement prepared by the heads of the Northern, Eastern and Tobago regions had initially been sent to Pan Trinbago secretary, Richard Forteau, asking for the elections to be postponed until the outcome of a civil action taken by some members contesting the central executive elections.
Keith Simpson, Denyse Hernandez, Maurice Alexander and Steadson Jack, who were seeking to contest for posts on the central executive, took legal action after their nomination papers were deemed invalid by PanTrinbago, on the grounds they were not named as delegates of any member steelband. The matter will come up in the Port-of-Spain High Court tomorrow. An injunction was granted October 25 halting the executive election, which was to take place at Pan Trinbago’s Special Convention at Capital Plaza (formerly Crowne Plaza), Port-of-Spain, on October 28.
According to Morancie, Pan Trinbago’s constitution states regional meetings should take place within one month after the Special Convention of the central executive. He said while the Special Convention did not occur because elections failed to come off, they decided to go ahead with the regional elections because there was no response to their postponement request from Forteau. However, Morancie said because the election was called for midweek last week (Wednesday at 5 pm), the attendance was not good. In the past, he said, the election took place on a weekend.
The meeting took place at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Arima and 24 bands were in attendance. Morancie said for a quorum, the Eastern Region required the presence of 64 bands.
He pointed out that the central executive never provided a copy of the list of financial members to the region, and it was only seen on the day of the election because the Returning Officer for the election had it. Morancie said after the meeting was closed, it was disclosed that he could not be an election candidate because he was not a delegated member. He said he has been chairman of the Eastern Region for the past 12 years, but chose not to comment on the matter due to the court action.
Asked what would happen next with the regional election, Morancie said, “They will have to give another date.”
In the Tobago region, the meeting proceeded as normal with the presentation of reports. However, there was discontent when the election of officers followed.
This occurred after the presiding officer for the election read the names of the positions to be filled and persons nominated, and members realised there were some names left off the ballot paper. The returning officer then read a letter from Forteau which said four nominees had been rejected.
Incumbent chairman of the Tobago Region, Jeffery Joseph, said three were rejected on the grounds they were not delegates of their bands and one, the incumbent treasurer, because she did not register as a member of a band.
He said, “The membership objected. They decided we will not pursue the election. A motion was moved for an adjournment of this until it can be decided. They (members) are of the view all members should be allowed to contest.”
According to Pan Trinbago’s constitution, Article 10 — Elections: 7, states: “Any delegated member of a financial steelband or any outgoing Central Executive Committee member shall be eligible for election to any office in the association.”
Joseph said a report was submitted to the central executive and there will be no election until there is a clarification of the secretary’s decision.
Sunday Newsday was unable to contact either Forteau, Pan Trinbago president Keith Diaz or vice president Byron Serrette, as they are all currently out of the country.
Replies
Ronny Lewis please delete this post and re post with no more than three paragraphs from the original article. In addition post a link to the original article. The posting of full articles from other publications without the expressed permission of the writer is not allowed.
WST
Why is the government still handing over millions of tax payers dollars to these people?