Stuart Young is currently in a state of uncertainty after being selected as Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley’s successor at a parliamentary retreat in Tobago a few days ago. According to reports, several members of that caucus are refusing to support him on a document that would guarantee him overwhelming support in the House of Representatives when Rowley eventually steps down.
Leader of Government Business Camille Robinson-Regis began contacting Members of Parliament yesterday to obtain their signatures on the paper, which would eventually be sent to the President, according to cabinet officials who spoke to Guardian Media.
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However, according to reports, Robinson-Regis had some difficulties when she started trying to physically get the signatures of the MPs who took part in the most recent vote.
At least nine MPs have originally refused to register their signatures, according to reliable information provided to reporters.
This is because of the repercussions among MPs over how the voting process proceeded and the reasons it was required so quickly in the first place.
Arima MP Pennelope Beckles lost the seat to Young, the MP for Port-of-Spain North/St Ann’s West, 11–9, following a secret ballot recently held at the Tobago Plantations.
The Constitution’s chapter five, which addresses ministerial appointments, states, “Where there is occasion for the appointment of a Prime Minister, the President shall appoint as Prime Minister: (a) a member of the House of Representatives who is the Leader in that House of that party which commands the support of the majority of members of that House.”
It is, therefore, critical that Young receives the majority backing from as many MPs when the time comes for him to be installed as the next Prime Minister.
The lack of signatures on the endorsement letter could now throw a wrench in the leadership transition which Rowley assured would be “smooth.”
Regarding the reason for the current dispute following Young’s victory in Monday’s straw ballot, sources stated that MPs first believed Rowley would resign as party leader and prime minister as soon as possible. They thus believed that Young would have served as prime minister in the interim while a convention to choose a political leader was being held.
Therefore, Young must get the support of the majority of MPs when it comes time for him to be sworn in as the new prime minister. The leadership transfer, which Rowley promised would be “smooth,” may now be hampered by the support letter’s lack of signatories.
According to insiders, MPs initially believed that Rowley would resign as prime minister and party leader as soon as possible. This is why there is now conflict following Young’s victory in Monday’s straw poll. They believed Young would have served as prime minister in the interim while a convention was held to choose a political leader.
“After the vote, the caucus realized that Dr. Rowley was not going to resign as political leader anytime soon and would stay on in that position until the convention, which is carded for September.”
According to sources, they were also upset that certain Members of Parliament were pressured to vote a certain way throughout the voting process by promising them high-level government jobs if the party was re-elected.
Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley and Robinson-Regis were contacted by a local media outlet on the purported issues, but as of the time of publication, no answer had been received.
Following the procedure that chose Young to succeed Dr. Rowley, Robinson-Regis stated on Tuesday that there was no conflict or hostility inside the PNM. Ahead of Saturday’s General Council meeting, however, concerns over a widening rift inside the party have since emerged and become more intense.
Ashton Ford, the previous general secretary of PNM, stated that he anticipated inquiries at the recent general council meeting on the selection process for Young and its openness.
Ford stated, “There will be discussions, clarifications, and, of course, there will be emotions given the way comments are coming from people who are challenging the process. There will be people like that, and they will speak loud but that doesn’t influence the decisions in the party. The persons who sometimes make the loud noises are the people who sometimes have an agenda.”
In a recent phone conversation, Ford added that it was not unusual for the General Council to become heated over important issues.
“I hear a lot of people talking about morality and different things, it is all speculation and there are elements in the media trying to promote these kinds of comments and trying to create division, but we have a history.”
PNM founder Ferdie Ferreira said that he anticipates the party’s constitution, which deals with choosing a successor, would win out at the gathering.
“What triggered all of this is all these unanswered questions and that is because they did not follow the party’s constitution. It is there and documented and there are precedents for this,” Ferreira stated.
He expressed his worries once more that the vote was not unanimous.
When the executives meet, Rowley’s hand can be swayed, according to Mariano Browne, a former PNM Minister in the Ministry of Finance.
“The point is that Dr Rowley, at every stage of the game, bypassed the organs of the party and I don’t think that is acceptable,” Browne stated.
Jennifer Baptiste-Primus, the former minister of Labor, is also targeting the gathering.
“I am looking forward to adherence to the constitution and respect for the constitution of the People’s National Movement.”As of the time of publication, Foster Cummings, the general secretary of PNM, has not responded to inquiries about the agenda for the General Council meeting.
The party’s special convention and internal elections were delayed last year. However, when Rowley named Young as his successor, he also stated that the party would address the leadership problem at a convention in September.
