Penelope Beckles, the new leader of PNM, addressed supporters in Tobago, promising change through a listening-focused leadership style. She emphasized the need for clear plans from party officers, improved collaboration between Trinidad and Tobago, and the importance of acknowledging past mistakes for unity and recovery. Beckles highlighted the resilience of the People’s National Movement as part of her vision.
Penelope Beckles, the newly elected leader of the People’s National Movement (PNM), addressed her supporters in Tobago on Tuesday, laying out her vision for change and unity. At the One PNM team meeting held in Buccoo, she acknowledged the struggles faced by Tobago residents. “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,” she remarked, emphasizing the pain of losing two parliamentary representatives.
Beckles emphasized a leadership style that prioritizes listening over aggression. She said, “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… the most powerful method of communication is silence.” This approach is central to her plan for guiding the party differently, signaling a shift away from past practices.
She mentioned the importance of rebuilding the party with a fresh perspective. “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.” Beckles is determined to take a new approach towards party operations.
Moreover, Beckles outlined expectations for newly appointed party officers. She stated, “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.” This commitment underscores her intent to introduce accountability within the party.
She also spoke about enhancing the relationship between Trinidad’s party leadership and Tobago’s local representatives, vowing to conduct 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 emphasized.
In concluding her remarks, Beckles urged party members to own their past mistakes, advocating for unity going forward. “If you don’t accept that you made mistakes, then you cannot recover.” She also reminded supporters of the party’s resilience with a hopeful message, 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.”
Penelope Beckles, the new leader of PNM, is committed to implementing a more listening-centric and accountable leadership style. She’s also focused on rebuilding the party with a clear plan for newly elected officers and fostering closer collaboration between Trinidad and Tobago leaderships. Acknowledging past mistakes is vital for unity and recovery, a sentiment echoed as she emphasized the party’s enduring resilience.
Original Source: www.guardian.co.tt
