Stuart Young has been declared the winner of the People’s National Movement (PNM) leadership contest, with the backing of all 21 Members of Parliament.
Energy Minister Young has been officially announced as the party’s nominee for political leader and as the successor to Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley. The paper will be signed by the nine Members of Parliament who were initially hesitant to sign an endorsement letter for Young.
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Young informed the nation during a media conference, “Look forward to team PNM!” following the PNM General Council meeting where the PNM General Secretary Foster Cummings announced the developments.
Young discussed his strategy for unification and harmony at PNM’s Balisier House headquarters in Port-of-Spain following the recent three-hour general council. There were about 200 attendees, including members from Tobago, the legislative branch, women’s and youth leagues, and all 41 districts.
The internal PNM problems were resolved once Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley announced his retirement on January 3.
Following a two-day meeting of the PNM’s legislative caucus in Tobago, when the leadership issue was reviewed, 11 MPs voted in favor of Young replacing Rowley. Pennelope Beckles-Robinson, the planning minister, had nine supporters. Rowley didn’t cast a ballot.
When it came time to sign the letter endorsing Young to become prime minister on Wednesday, some Tobago MPs expressed doubts, despite their previous agreement to support him.
Issues were boiling during a recent meeting of the parliamentary (legislative) caucus of MPs, who examined the letter. Certain local leaders were also preparing to propose a proposal at yesterday’s council meeting calling for Rowley’s resignation early and an electoral convention by March 31 rather than September.
According to sources, speeches were delivered at yesterday’s council meeting on defending the party, the leadership, and the process. Labor Officer Jennifer Baptiste-Primus insisted that a convention to ratify decisions should take place in March, while Operations Officer Irene Hinds, MP Faris Al-Rawi, and Youth Officer Jeniece Scott made these statements.
At the ensuing briefing, Cummings stated that the council met in a very orderly manner.
Cummings noted, “Persons participated and raised issues they would have had during ‘General Business’. At the conclusion, no motion from the floor was put by any member dealing with any matter whatsoever.”
Adding, “Persons did raise many concerns or different issues that would be a normal thing at a general council meeting. At the end of the day, we continue to be a strong, united party ready to represent the people.”
Further noting, “All 21 members of the House of Representatives of the PNM have signed on to agree and approve Minister Young to take over the office of Prime Minister upon the retirement of Prime Minister Rowley.”
Cummings described PNM as a disciplined, experienced party that was cohesive and powerful. “Every MP is united behind Minister Young in this new responsibility that he’s to take on.”
Cummings stated There isn’t currently a position open for political leadership.
Cummings acknowledged that members’ concerns included the matter of the PNM’s political leadership. “Everything was adequately addressed,” he added, failing to disclose specifics about the issues. According to Young, Rowley addressed members and reaffirmed key points. As a result, everyone understood, and there was also unanimity.
Cummings stated that there is no vacuum for political leadership at this moment; “when it’s before us, we’ll address it.”
He further noted, “Dr Rowley continues to be the PNM’s political leader. He’s indicated he’ll resign as Prime Minister. When that time comes, our candidate is Minister Young, of course. We’re 100 percent behind Minister Young in that regard.”
According to Young, the Prime Minister has signaled that he would retire, and the next step is for the President to make a decision based on constitutional procedures. He stated that all 21 PNM MPs support the conclusion of their recent vote.
“And that’s what’s going to go forward … We’ll take this step by step. There’s no vacancy, no resignation of either a PM or political leader.”
Young could not provide exact timeframes for when the resignation would occur, “That’s absolutely up to Dr Rowley. What the PNM is presenting today is a seamless transition for the post of Prime Minister. That’s signed, sealed, delivered—and that’s the end of that.”
Young stated that the T&T constitutional part of determining a PM had been addressed, and that the PNM’s constitution to pick a political leader, “I have no fear—that too will be adequately addressed at the appropriate time.”
Young stated that it was “explained to the general council” that the situation is neither unique or abnormal because the minority leader in Tobago is Kelvon Morris, while Senator Ancil Dennis leads the PNM’s Tobago Council.
Young, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister and MP for Port-of-Spain North, stated, “My message is to first and foremost congratulate the Honorable Prime Minister and PNM leader, Dr Rowley, for continuing to lead this wonderful party. My message is important because it promotes unity and unification.
“I’ve been in very good dialogue, in particular with my colleagues and many of my other colleagues, and what you’re seeing here is what you’d expect to see from the People’s National Movement. What you’re seeing here is historic. We’re pleased to tell T&T that what you’re going to be seeing is the roll-out of Team PNM,” Young stated.
He added, “You’re going to be seeing Team PNM going to the population as a unified, strengthened party—a party that has a lot to offer the population, and I look forward to working with my colleagues in a manner that will present to this population something that maybe you’ll be unprepared for in the most positive of manners. We’re going to be seeing unity and historical things happening that will only uplift T&T.”
The endorsing document was not a letter, according to Young. “It was a signature of confirmation of what occurred in Tobago and the agreement among all of us to stand as a united front as we go forward upon Dr Rowley’s resignation.”
In response to the question of how the nine MPs who backed Beckles were persuaded to do so, Young stated, “I don’t really think it was a matter of ‘convincing’; we had certain discussions and we always knew, I believe, that we’d end up at this point, and it really wasn’t a matter of convincing—this is exactly where I expected us as the PNM to end up.”
In addition, Cummings stated, “It was a matter of consensus building. At the end of the day, we’re all PNM members; we all have the party’s best interests at heart, and we’re just very happy we’ve reached this point today where we can move forward.”
Cummings affirmed that the recent discussion at Balisier House resulted in a resolution.
Concerns expressed by PNMites who desired an electoral convention were also addressed by PNM General Secretary Foster Cummings.
A message from Cummings was shared in PNM groups yesterday at 8:07 a.m., marking the start of PNM’s Council Day. It said, “We are the PNM, the strongest and most resilient political party in the region. It is only as a united team that we will continue to be great. We are in an election year and as such we need all hands on deck, working together as a united force. As general secretary, I urge all party members to work with us as we continue to bring good governance to Trinidad and Tobago,”
Noting, “We have selected the party chairman and MP for PoS North as the member to succeed Dr Rowley as Prime Minister and he has my full support. Great is the PNM and we shall prevail. Let’s do this.”
According to former PNM Arima chairman Cagney Cassimire, their unit was informed of the post, but a maxi taxi carrying Arima MP Penny Beckles’ supporters arrived at Balisier House. A resolution for a convention to pick a new leader was to be presented by Arima’s three delegates to the general council, he added.
Cummings stated, “We’ve settled on the matter of who will be the person replacing Dr Rowley as Prime Minister. When the matter of political leader is before us, we’ll treat with that. As it is now we’re united behind Mr. Stuart Young and we’ll continue to give him that support to ensure he can get into this role and continue serving T&T.”
According to Young, Beckles-Robinson attended the council meeting and took part in the conversation with Young and other members. Cummings promised that any issues would be appropriately addressed at the proper time.
Young thanked Cummings for “working as closely as he did with me over the last few days to ensure that we’re presenting today, Team PNM to the population and we thank all my (MP) colleagues. I look forward to how we continue to unfold this chapter in T&T’s history.”
