“IS mud, is rain, and a set ah prayers like I in church … ah didn’t cater for this, I gone.”

These were the parting words of one fete-loving, not-so-reverent PNMite as the People’s National Movement (PNM) celebrated its 50th Anniversary last Tuesday at Woodford Square Port of Spain.

While rain and muddy grounds failed to dampen the spirits of diehard party supporters, the programme of activities proved disappointing to those who looked forward to every PNM event as an opportunity to fete.

A small group of fun-lovers tried to get an impromptu rhythm section going, but those who preferred a more spiritual and inspirational fare drowned them out.

The St. Peter’s Baptist Church Choir and other “faith-based” groups provided musical interludes between speeches.

There was also a noticeable dearth of alcoholic beverages available at the celebrations, but this problem was solved by vendors with buckets moving through the crowd.

Some sections of the large crowd were moved
by the inspirational music, while others
seemed to be quite bored.

“The Unity Dance”, with dancers representing
Amerindians, Europeans, Africans, Indians,
Chinese and Syrian-Lebanese, was one
of the evening’s high points.

Prime Minister and PNM Political Leader Patrick Manning was invited to light the first of 50 candles to mark the event, while National Security Minister Martin Joseph, in his capacity as the PNM’s General Secretary, read messages of congratulations from political parties in other Caribbean territories.

Apart from tributes to PNM founder and Trinidad and Tobago’s first Prime Minister Dr. Eric Williams, he also paid tribute to well-known founding members such as Donald Granado and Patrick Solomon, but surprisingly, the staunch PNM crowd applauded lustily when Manning reminded them that former President A.N.R. Robinson was also a founding member of the party.

The applause might have been more muted if he had reminded his audience that Robinson and Williams parted ways many years ago, and later beat the PNM at the polls to become prime minister as political leader of the National Alliance of Reconstruction (NAR).

But then again, it is to Robinson’s credit that the incumbent United National Congress (UNC) was removed and the PNM installed in power during the 18-18 electoral deadlock in 2002.

Prime Minister Manning also paid tribute to Williams’ successor George Chambers, giving him credit for steering the country’s economy in the right direction during difficult times. History would show that it was during Chambers’ reign as PM that the country entered into a recession that only got worse during the 1986-91 NAR rule.

“Even in that period of financial stringency, (Chambers) gave concessions to the local manufacturing sector,” Manning said, adding that it was that crucial move that made the Trinidad and Tobago manufacturing sector “the most vital and competitive in the region”.

Manning also paid special tribute to two founding members of the party who were the first to be registered as party members: Carmen Holder and Leon Hinkson.