McClashie wants voters to support PNM, forget petty politics

LABOUR Minister Stephen Mc Clashie told reporters he was bowing out as MP for La Brea, although signalling he would still support the PNM in any way the party may require.

He spoke to reporters before entering the Senate on January 21, days after not getting the nod to return as MP but with the constituency executive being told to widen its search for nominees to stand for the PNM in the seat in the upcoming general election.

Mc Clashie told reporters he would not participate in the party’s screening of fresh nominees on January 23.

“No, no, no. I am out of the race completely.

“We have two candidates that are going towards the screening committee – Jermel Pierre (La Brea PNM constituency chairman) and Randall Mitchell (Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts). They both will be screened on Thursday (January 23).”

He opted to not indicate any preference.

“I know who I am supporting but I am not going to say.

“I would leave the business of the screening committee to the screening committee and allow them to make an unbiased and non-prejudicial decision.

“So in that sense, I believe the party will do the right thing at the screening.”

Newsday asked if he would be willing to serve in a senatorial post, given his good standing among reporters as labour minister, if he was asked to return as minister.

Mc Clashie said, “I am a People’s National Movement member. I am also a nationalist and a patriot, I’d want to say.

“So wherever I am asked to serve, I will be willing to serve. That is it. I am not expecting to be offered anything but if I am and I feel good about it, I will offer myself to serve the country.” Asked if he was bit disappointed not to be re-selected as MP, McClashie was stoic. “I have a philosophy that says – and this is just me – ‘It is as it was supposed to be.’

“Therefore, all that has culminated in this particular decision, I trust God that all those things that were conspiring towards my betterment.”

As to his parting message to his constituents, he urged them to work hard, put PNM back into office and forget petty politics.

“The greater issue, and the greatest things facing our nation, is continuity, it is fairness, it is opportunity, and I think the People’s National Movement is best poised to continue putting country first.” Asked if he thought he had more to offer to TT in representational/ministerial politics, Mc Clashie replied, “Yes, I do.”

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