Beckles Promises Change and Unity in Tobago

Penelope Beckles, elected political leader of the PNM, addressed supporters in Tobago, acknowledging their challenges and promising a new leadership approach centered on listening and unity. She emphasized the need for actionable plans from newly elected officers and pledged to strengthen ties between Trinidad and Tobago leaderships while addressing past mistakes.

Penelope Beckles, recently elected political leader of the People’s National Movement (PNM), made a strong commitment to her supporters in Tobago during a meeting on Tuesday night. Addressing the crowd in Buccoo, she acknowledged the pain and challenges that the community is currently facing, particularly following the loss of both of its members in parliament.

Beckles 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 when you have lost your both members of parliament and you only have one person in the assembly, that ain’t easy.” Her remarks reflected a deep understanding of the struggles many Tobagonians are experiencing.

Defining her approach to leadership, Beckles articulated a will to listen rather than to dominate the conversation. “You know, you hear some saying, I ain’t loud enough, I ain’t aggressive enough,” she explained, defending her style which is more about comprehension than confrontation. She underscored that listening comes with wisdom and suggested that there is strength in silence.

Continuing with her vision, Beckles indicated that rejuvenating the party will necessitate new methods. She expressed her openness to queries from the members, promising to do things differently compared to past leadership. “It would not be business as usual,” she assured her supporters, seeking to establish a culture of communication and understanding.

She also laid down a firm expectation for newly elected officers to develop actionable plans promptly upon taking their positions. “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,” Beckles stated, ensuring that the party’s future strategies will be well thought-out right from the start.

Moreover, Beckles highlighted the need for a stronger collaboration between Tobago and Trinidad leadership, promising to increase the frequency of 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,” she added.

Recognizing the importance of moving forward, she called for the party to own up to its errors while promoting unity among members. “If you don’t accept that you made mistakes, then you cannot recover,” she articulated, reinforcing the importance of reflection and acknowledgment.

Lastly, Beckles reminded her audience of the unwavering spirit and resilience of the People’s National Movement, declaring, “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 speech, Penelope Beckles asserted that understanding and listening are essential to her leadership approach. She committed to fostering closer ties between the PNM leadership in Trinidad and Tobago and emphasized the necessity for new methods in party rebuilding. Her call for unity and acknowledgment of past mistakes underlined her vision for a stronger party moving forward, coupled with a reminder of PNM’s enduring resilience.

Original Source: www.guardian.co.tt