The People’s National Movement (PNM) has broken its silence on the escalating dispute involving San Fernando East MP Brian Manning and members of the constituency executive, saying established internal mechanisms are being used to address the controversy and declaring that the party must remain bigger than any individual.
In a statement dated August 20, 2026, PNM General Secretary Marvin Gonzales addressed the public exchanges involving Manning and the San Fernando East Constituency Executive, which have brought growing attention to divisions within the constituency.
The statement follows concerns raised publicly by Manning over the governance of the constituency, the conduct of a recent constituency executive election and what he described as an apparent conflict of interest involving San Fernando East Constituency Chairman Patricia Alexis.
The controversy intensified after Manning was reportedly removed from a San Fernando East Constituency Executive group chat and a message he had posted was deleted by the chairman.
Manning subsequently issued a public statement outlining his concerns and calling for transparency and impartial scrutiny of the issues being raised.
The PNM has now confirmed that the matter predates the latest public exchanges and has already been subjected to an internal process.
According to the party, it received correspondence from Manning on July 30, 2026.
Following receipt of that correspondence, the San Fernando East Constituency Executive chairman contacted the party and requested the appointment of an inquiry team with approved terms of reference to examine the issues being raised by both parties.
The PNM said the matters concerning the constituency were subsequently considered within the party’s internal structures.
“The report was considered by the Leadership, Central Executive and the General Council,” the statement said.
According to the PNM, action is being taken on the recommendations contained in the report and the process of addressing the issues within the San Fernando East Constituency continues.
The party did not publicly detail the findings or recommendations contained in the report.
Instead, it used the statement to emphasise the importance of resolving internal disputes through established party institutions.
The PNM described itself as a democratic organisation and pointed to its approximately 70-year history, saying the party has experienced disagreements and internal challenges throughout its existence.
It said such differences can arise particularly during periods involving constituency and internal party elections.
The party also acknowledged that disagreements between a parliamentary representative and a constituency executive can occur.
However, it maintained that mechanisms exist under the PNM’s constitution to allow members to report concerns and have disputes addressed through the appropriate channels.
The party stressed that members must respect those mechanisms and the institutions responsible for resolving internal disagreements.
“For seven decades, our strength as a movement, has rested on respect for the Party’s structure and processes, on allowing all parties to be heard and on recognising that our institution must remain stronger than any individual disagreement or current situation,” the statement said.
The PNM also indicated that it would not attempt to settle the allegations through public exchanges.
It said public exchanges of allegations and counter-allegations would not resolve the issues confronting the San Fernando East Constituency.
The party said those issues require due process, examination and consideration by the institutions upon which members ultimately rely.
According to the statement, the party leadership and General Council will continue working with Manning, Alexis and members of the San Fernando East Constituency Executive toward a resolution.
“The Leadership and General Council will continue to work with Mr Manning, Mrs Alexis and the members of the San Fernando East Constituency towards a resolution,” the party stated.
“The Party will not be drawn into publicly adjudicating allegations concerning individual members while that work continues.”
The PNM acknowledged that members will sometimes disagree and hold strongly opposing views but said those differences must be handled with fairness, discipline and respect.
The response comes after Manning publicly raised several questions concerning the San Fernando East executive.
Among the issues raised by Manning was what he described as an apparent conflict of interest involving Alexis because of the number of positions she holds within the PNM.
Manning said Alexis serves not only as San Fernando East constituency chairman but also holds senior responsibilities within the wider party structure, including Assistant General Secretary, San Fernando East representative on the General Council and membership of the Central Executive.
He argued that concerns had been raised about whether the combination of those positions could affect impartiality when matters involving the San Fernando East constituency reach higher levels of the party.
Manning has called for an impartial investigation and greater transparency, arguing that members deserve confidence that concerns raised within the constituency will receive fair consideration.
The situation became even more contentious following the reported group-chat incident.
Manning was removed from the San Fernando East Constituency Executive group chat, while a message attributed to him was reportedly deleted by Alexis.
The development added another layer to an already tense relationship between the MP and elements of the constituency executive and resulted in the dispute becoming increasingly public.
The PNM’s latest statement does not specifically address whether Manning’s removal from the group chat was authorised or appropriate, nor does it provide a detailed response to each of the allegations raised publicly.
Instead, the party’s position is that the existing internal process should be allowed to continue.
Gonzales concluded the statement by emphasising the importance of the institution over individual personalities or disputes.
“For 70 years, the PNM has endured because generations of members have understood that the Party is bigger than any one of us and that each of us is, for a certain duration, a custodian of something larger than ourselves,” the statement said.
The latest intervention confirms that the PNM leadership is actively dealing with the San Fernando East dispute but also makes clear that the party does not intend to publicly adjudicate the competing allegations while that process remains underway.
With Manning continuing to demand transparency and the party confirming that recommendations from an internal process are being acted upon, attention will now turn to whether those measures are sufficient to resolve the divisions within San Fernando East and restore confidence among constituency members.
