Penelope Beckles, elected PNM’s political leader, promises change and unity for Tobago, emphasizing listening and collaboration. She plans to encourage dialogue among party members, requires officers to present clear plans, and strengthens Trinidad-Tobago relations. Beckles calls for acceptance of past mistakes for recovery and underscores the party’s resilience.
Penelope Beckles, the recently elected political leader of the People’s National Movement (PNM), addressed a gathering of supporters in Tobago on Tuesday night, outlining her vision for change and unity within the party. Speaking at the One PNM team meeting held in Buccoo, she expressed empathy for the struggles facing the Tobago community. “In Trinidad plenty hurting, and there’s more hurting in Tobago. I mean, some Trinidadians mightn’t be too happy to hear me say that, but when you have lost both members of parliament and you only have one person in the assembly, that ain’t easy. So I understand the pain and the hurt that many of you all feel,” Beckles stated.
Beckles emphasized a shift in leadership style, one that favors listening over aggression. “You know, you hear some saying, I ain’t loud enough, I ain’t aggressive enough, I ain’t talking enough. She too soft. There’s a lot of wisdom in listening, and some listeners don’t always speak very quickly, and I’m one of those who do a lot of listening. So yes, you might not find I’m aggressive, but all of you know in here… the most powerful method of communication is silence,” she added, making it clear that her approach focused on understanding rather than confrontation.
Moving ahead, Beckles highlighted the necessity of a new approach in rebuilding the PNM, which includes being open to dialogue and feedback from party members. “That is why I’m saying that you may have some things you want to ask me or tell me, because I am going to be doing things differently, and it would not be business as usual,” she declared, underscoring the importance of a collaborative atmosphere.
During her speech, she laid out expectations for newly elected party officers to devise and submit a clear plan shortly after assuming their roles. “I have made it very clear that there’s a general council, and when the officers come in the first three months, they have to present their plan for the next two years, and they heard it from me loud and clear,” Beckles mentioned, outlining a structured plan for accountability.
Moreover, Beckles vowed to strengthen the relationship between the party’s leadership in Trinidad and Tobago, proposing more frequent meetings in Tobago. “One of the things that we have to work on is the improvement between the Tobago Council and the Trinidad leadership… under my watch, it will be yes, and the general council needs to come to Tobago more often. So it can’t be that everything is in that way, and we not coming up here,” she said, stressing the need for greater inclusivity.
She highlighted the importance of acknowledging past mistakes to foster unity within party ranks. “If you don’t accept that you made mistakes, then you cannot recover,” Beckles advised, marking the necessity of reflection for progress.
Finally, Beckles reminded the gathering of the PNM’s enduring resilience, using a metaphor to drive her point home: “If you chop it, it will grow back, and if you burn it, it will grow back. That is the resilience of the People’s National Movement.”
In conclusion, Penelope Beckles is seeking to transform the People’s National Movement in Tobago by promoting a leadership style characterized by listening and collaboration. She has vowed to rebuild the party’s connection with its supporters and address past grievances openly. Additionally, by requiring party leaders to present clear plans, Beckles aims to usher in a new era of accountability and unity, with a renewed focus on the Tobago community’s involvement in decision-making processes.
Original Source: www.guardian.co.tt
