PORT-OF-SPAIN (Trinidad Express):

The People's National Move-ment (PNM) has accelerated its pre-election campaign although a date for the polls has not yet been announced.

The ruling party announced that it has started hosting a series of political meetings across the country with the hope of soliciting support from both its current membership and non-party members.

PNM Vice-Chairman John Donaldson said Sunday that the party planned to hold a cottage meeting every week in every constituency and that various units within the organisation, including the party's youth league, women's league and its Tobago legislative council, have all had meetings in various places where "all citizens were welcomed".

Donaldson made the comments yesterday during the PNM's post-general council meeting press conference at the party's head-quarters at Balisier House in Port-of-Spain.

Pre-election screening

He said the general council meeting was expected to be the party's last one until its 41st annual convention scheduled to take place next month at the Chaguaramas Convention Centre.

Donaldson said that council members wondered if the meeting was a pre-election screening since the party was expected to select representatives for its election strategy committee after its annual convention.

He said that PNM Political Leader and Prime Minister Patrick Manning did not announce or hint at when the country's next general elections would be held but that Manning emphasised the importance and usefulness of cottage meetings.

Donaldson added that the PNM was expected to carry out nine meetings yesterday in places such as Point Fortin and Barataria.

The next general election will be contested for 41 seats, an increase by five since the last poll in 2002.

Manning has hinted recently of a possible snap election, before they are constitutionally due next year.

"The bell will ring," he told a general council meeting in San Fernando recently.