Kezel Jackson Confronts Brian Manning Over Alleged Betrayal in PNM

All People’s Party (APP) leader Kezel Jackson has launched a scathing attack on San Fernando East MP Brian Manning, accusing him of betraying the People’s National Movement (PNM) and questioning whether his recent actions are damaging the party from within.

Jackson made the accusations in a video commentary amid an increasingly public dispute involving Manning and members of the PNM’s San Fernando East constituency executive.

Her intervention comes as tensions surrounding Manning have escalated. Manning recently called on the PNM leadership to address what he described as governance concerns within the San Fernando East constituency. Reports also indicate that a statement from Manning posted in a constituency group chat was deleted and that he was subsequently removed from the group.

In her video, Jackson strongly criticised Manning’s conduct and questioned his political loyalty, at one point describing him as a “traitor.” She suggested his actions could weaken the PNM at a time when the party needs unity and even raised questions about whether influences associated with the United National Congress (UNC) were playing a role.

Jackson also turned attention to Manning’s family and his wife’s position in the media industry, raising questions about whether those connections could create competing political or personal interests. These were allegations and insinuations made by Jackson; no evidence establishing improper conduct by Manning or his family was presented in the material reviewed.

Much of Jackson’s criticism centred on Manning’s relationship with the PNM itself. She argued that he benefited considerably from the political legacy of his father, former prime minister and longtime PNM leader Patrick Manning, but questioned whether his current actions serve the party that helped establish his political career.

Jackson also defended San Fernando East constituency chairman Patricia Alexis, suggesting Alexis had previously supported Manning and played an important role in his political development. Jackson argued that Manning was now turning against people who had once assisted him.

The controversy surrounding Manning and Alexis has already attracted the attention of the PNM’s leadership. The party has said it is implementing recommendations arising from an internal inquiry into the San Fernando East dispute, while PNM chairman Marvin Gonzales has publicly urged members to exercise restraint and warned that exchanges of accusations and counter-accusations will not resolve the constituency’s problems.

Jackson, however, broadened her criticism beyond Manning and the immediate internal dispute.

She argued that the PNM needs to reconnect with its traditional grassroots supporters and concentrate on the everyday difficulties facing communities. She pointed to education, social assistance and other basic needs as areas where political organisations should devote greater attention instead of becoming consumed by internal battles and political manoeuvring.

Jackson is herself an established political figure. She previously served as deputy political leader of the Progressive Democratic Patriots before resigning in 2023 and later became leader of the All People’s Party. The APP contested the 2025 general election under her leadership.

Her intervention adds another dimension to a PNM dispute that has moved increasingly into public view.

For Manning, the controversy centres on his insistence that governance and accountability concerns within San Fernando East deserve proper scrutiny. His critics, including Jackson, are instead questioning whether his approach is damaging the organisation he represents.

With the PNM leadership now attempting to contain the disagreement, Jackson’s fiery commentary underscores how the San Fernando East dispute has developed beyond a constituency-level disagreement into a wider debate about loyalty, leadership and the future direction of the party.

Article and image source: facebook.com