Penelope Beckles, elected leader of PNM, spoke to supporters in Tobago about her commitment to change and unity. She emphasized listening over aggression, called for a new approach to leadership, and stressed the importance of accountability among elected officials. Beckles also aimed to strengthen connections between the Trinidad and Tobago party leadership while urging her team to learn from past mistakes for recovery.
Penelope Beckles, the newly elected political leader of the People’s National Movement (PNM), addressed supporters in Buccoo, Tobago, Tuesday night, assuring them she recognizes their struggles. She commented on the pain caused by losing both parliamentary representatives and emphasized, “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… I understand the pain and the hurt that many of you all feel.”
In her speech, Beckles characterized her leadership approach as focused on listening rather than aggression, despite criticism of her style. She said, “You know, you hear some saying, I ain’t loud enough, I ain’t aggressive enough… but all of you know in here… the most powerful method of communication is silence.” Her focus on listening is intended to foster better dialogues and inclusivity within the party.
Beckles stressed that rejuvenating the PNM requires a fresh perspective. “I am going to be doing things differently, and it would not be business as usual,” she told supporters, insisting that she was open to questions and inputs from the party members.
She also highlighted the importance of setting clear objectives for newly elected party officials. Beckles announced the expectation that officers outline their plans for the next two years within three months of assuming their roles. “I have made it very clear that there’s a general council, and when the officers come in, they have to present their plan… and they heard it from me loud and clear,” she asserted.
The leader-elect proposed enhancing collaboration between the party leaders in Trinidad and Tobago, committing to more frequent meetings on the island. “We have to work on improvement between the Tobago Council and the Trinidad leadership… 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,” Beckles stated.
Beckles urged her party members to learn from past missteps to build unity. “If you don’t accept that you made mistakes, then you cannot recover,” she said, reflecting on the need for growth within the party. In a moment of motivation, she reminded everyone of the party’s enduring spirit, saying, “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 her first address as political leader-elect of the PNM, Penelope Beckles highlighted her plan for a more empathetic and collaborative leadership approach. She called for party unity, accountability, and a renewed strategy to strengthen ties between Trinidad and Tobago. As Beckles moves forward, her commitment to listening and engaging with her supporters stands out as a key element in her vision for the party’s future.
Original Source: www.guardian.co.tt
