Is the PNM entering a political wilderness of its own making?

Not for the first time in its 70-year history, the People’s National Movement (PNM) finds itself confronting a serious political challenge. The question is, however, whether Trinidad and Tobago’s longest-serving and traditionally most resilient political party can weather the current storm as it has done before, or does it now face a deeper and more consequential decline.

What began as an internal dispute between San Fernando East MP Brian Manning and members of his constituency executive has escalated into allegations of entrenched corruption within the constituency. So far, the party leadership’s response has done little to reassure supporters that the matter is being addressed decisively. Rather than subsiding, the controversy intensified when Mr Manning publicly levelled serious accusations against executive members, despite calls for the dispute to be resolved through the party’s internal mechanisms.

The situation became even more complicated with the intervention of Hazel Manning, widow of former prime minister Patrick Manning and mother of the sitting MP. Her decision to contest the constituency chairmanship suggests dissatisfaction with the handling of the matter and may also be interpreted as an effort to protect the political legacy of her late husband, who represented San Fernando East for 44 years.

The PNM’s measured response may reflect confidence born of its long history and proven capacity for recovery. The party has survived major political setbacks before. Following its crushing defeat in the 1986 general election, it rebuilt under Patrick Manning and eventually returned to government. More recently, Dr Keith Rowley guided the party through another difficult period and restored its electoral fortunes.

Today, however, the challenges confronting the PNM appear fundamentally different.

Questions continue to surround the party’s handling of concerns raised by former general secretary and parliamentarian Ashton Ford regarding Arima Mayor Baliram Maharaj. Ford has openly criticised what he sees as a reluctance by the leadership to address allegations of disloyalty and conduct inconsistent with the party’s interests.

Similarly, allegations involving Senator Janelle John-Bates’ assistance to former health minister Terrence Deyalsingh, in a matter before a parliamentary committee on which she served, were allowed to linger without a clear and authoritative response from the party hierarchy.

Beyond these individual controversies lies a more troubling reality. Between 2015 and 2025, the PNM lost approximately 150,000 votes. Significantly, many of those voters did not appear to migrate to the United National Congress. Instead, they simply withdrew their support, suggesting growing disillusionment among sections of the party’s traditional base.

That trend should concern the party more than any single internal dispute. Political organisations rarely decline solely because of the strength of their opponents. More often, they falter when supporters lose confidence in their leadership, accountability and willingness to confront problems openly and decisively.

The challenge facing the PNM today extends far beyond San Fernando East or any individual controversy. It is a test of leadership, credibility and relevance. More importantly, it raises a fundamental question: whether the party is prepared to confront weaknesses within its own ranks with the same vigour it applies to its political adversaries.

How the PNM answers that question in the months ahead may determine whether it remains a dominant force in T&T’s political landscape or enters a political wilderness of its own making.