PNM party group chairman hospitalised after alleged beating by members on Thursday
Police at the Moruga Fifth Company Baptist School hall after party group chairman Anton Lynch was allegedly attacked by fellow PNMites last Thursday.
Anton Lynch, chairman of PNM’s Moruga/Tableland party group 26, was warded at the San Fernando General Hospital after losing consciousness following an alleged beating.
He was allegedly attacked by fellow PNMites on the conclusion of a heated constituency meeting last Thursday.
“I’m worried. I just came from a whole night at the hospital,” said Lynch’s wife yesterday. “It was an unfortunate incident that occurred, and we’re hoping he’ll be alright.”
She said there has been some party support.
“Our coordinator has been in touch with me, and one or two members of the constituency executive reached out,” she said.
Lynch was among Moruga/Tableland PNMites who attended last Thursday’s annual general meeting at the Moruga Fifth Company Baptist School auditorium for the unit’s constituency executive elections. That was postponed following strong complaints from members about alleged voting “irregularities” and names not listed.
After the meeting, Lynch left the hall but told Guardian Media he was attacked and beaten by some upset fellow PNM members, prompting the police to be called.
He filed a report at St Mary’s Police Post and was sent to the Princes Town Health Facility. He was discharged after treatment and went home Thursday night.
Lynch continued feeling sick on Thursday night and “blacked out” on Friday morning.
He was taken back to the Princes Town Health Facility, where he was stabilised. After continuing head and body pain, he was sent to San Fernando General Hospital for further tests and evaluation and was still warded there yesterday.
Constituency officials said Lynch was depressed at what had happened. “He never expected people to do that to him.” Some officials said the executive election was postponed to this week.
Yesterday, they said, officials from Balisier House would be coming to meet the executive this week on the issues that have been occurring in the unit, and they expected the internal elections would be after that and party group AGMs would be sorted out.
PNM executive officials last week confirmed to Guardian Media that there would be a meeting early this week. A constituency executive official had sent a letter to PNM’s general secretary on alleged issues in the executive. The official stated that on several occasions he had raised complaints concerning the alleged conduct of a senior executive official during party group elections “which have been contrary to constitutional provisions.”
The letter claimed there was evidence from their group’s chat showing two senior executive officials “repeatedly refused to provide the necessary information to another executive officer, and that was a breach of the constitution.” The letter also stated that these long-standing party groups had paid their dues, complied with all necessary requirements, and denied their constitutional rights “due to internal conflict between executive members that could have serious repercussions” as PNM prepare for the general election.
Moruga executive chairman Anson Allen had said he did not know what the letter was about.
Credit: Gail Alexandar - Guardian