(Trinidad Guardian) – The Cabinet reshuffle announced by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley on Wednesday, which saw the country’s third-highest officeholder being reassigned, is being viewed as a significant demotion for Faris Al-Rawi.
Political analysts Dr Winford James, Professor Hamid Ghany, Dr Bishnu Ragoonath and Maukesh Basdeo attributed Al-Rawi’s removal as Attorney General to varying reasons.
They also believe the sudden resignation of Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambaharat has left a lot of unanswered questions.
“There seems to me, some upheaval in the party and within the Government. There is some, I supposed some falling out between the Prime Minister and some of his main ministers so that he (Rowley) is driven to do the shuffle and reorganise things,” James said during a telephone interview.
James said one of the reasons could be the PM’s admission on Monday that it was he who met with the former Police Service Commission chairman Bliss Seepersad, giving her information that ultimately led the Police Commissioner merit list to be pulled back.
“Also, it seems his announcement that he wants to go up for a third term may not be sitting well with some of the members of the party.”
Rowley may give reasons for the sudden reshuffle in the days to follow but James said “it is certainly not looking good for the PNM.”
James said the population would view Al-Rawi’s shift to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development as a demotion.
“You need two persons to form the Government, one is the Prime Minister and the other is the AG. That is the man who advises the Prime Minister on matters of the law as it relates to the governance.”
He said the resignation of Rambharat was unexpected and that left many unanswered questions.
He said if there is discontentment brewing in the Cabinet, it could lead to further resignations of ministers and the Government falling apart.
“Yes, I think we just have to wait. People who had accepted the shift of portfolio are probably having a change of heart. If other resignations follow it could lead to the collapse of the Government.”
Asked if this could be the end of Rowley’s leadership, James replied, “It could be because there might be other voices that want to speak and don’t have the basis for doing so just yet.”
James added that the unexpected reshuffle goes beyond “wrangling”.
“If you have a serious break with your senior ministers at this point in time that is a serious development.”
He said while Rowley has the power to appoint and revoke a ministerial portfolio, “you can’t do that willy-nilly. You can’t do that idly. The people have feelings and expectations.”
Regarding the realignment of Planning and Development Minister Camille Robinson-Regis to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, James said, “I think that is a demotion as well. The Minister of Planning is a critical minister with respect to the formulation and implementation of Government’s plans.”
Ghany admitted the removal of Al-Rawi “is a shocking development, as it constitutes a substantial demotion in the Cabinet.”
He said the removal of the AG in any Government under the Constitution “is a major event because the AG is a required office (together with the Prime Minister under Section 75(2) of our Constitution.”
A press release issued by Al-Rawi last night stated that it was with great excitement and pleasure he had accepted his new portfolio.
Ghany said Al-Rawi also made a pledge of loyalty to the PM and the Government “while casting himself as the minister who will deliver local government reform in the future. He appears to have accepted the demotion, which will keep him in play for the internal elections of the PNM later this year. Which office he will seek will be very interesting.”
The political scientist also pointed out that Hosein’s shift to the Agriculture Ministry was also indicative of a San Fernando shift.
“The Prime Minister needs to keep San Fernando in the play because the demotion of Al-Rawi will have a ripple effect in San Fernando which would need to be calmed.”
Commenting on the appointment of Reginald Armour as AG, Ghany said it “brings to office a renowned member of the senior bar of T&T.”
The resignation of Rambharat, Ghany said, begs the question “whether he was asked to resign or did he just decide that the time had come for him to leave.”
Ghany said while Rambharat’s Facebook post after his resignation stated that he felt it was time to go, his “two words ending “Rock So” were curious because he was Leader of Government Business in the Senate after the death of Franklin Khan.
Ghany felt the reshuffle could possibly have an impact on the financiers of the party who may be looking at these events with some dismay.
“The reshuffle may also be connected to the upcoming internal elections in the PNM, as some ministers have their own ambition for future advancement in the party. Some of the persons who have been moved around are likely contestants for office in the party later this year. There might be a connection in this shuffle to the Gary Griffith non-renewal as police commissioner. There has been a perception that Al-Rawi wanted Griffith to be re-appointed as police commissioner, which would have run against the specific wishes of the Prime Minister.”
Weighing in on the issue, Ragoonath said while Rambharat was being viewed as the main catalyst behind the sudden shifting, Rowley’s move was strategic and meant “to work in favour of the People’s National Movement” to ensure success at the upcoming Local Government polls by re-arranging ministerial placements.
He noted that Hosein was not necessarily the strongest Local Government minister, so that would be one of the concerns the party would have had in preparing for that election.”
Speculating that the removal of Al-Rawi was for the PNM to have certain leverage in this area, Ragoonath rationalised, “You would have heard the Prime Minister say last week that local government reform is coming back to the Parliament.”
However, Ragoonath agreed Al-Rawi may have made some “missteps” during his tenure, which could also have led to his removal.
He added, “It could also be a bit of damage control because clearly, Al-Rawi would have been not functioning in step with the Prime Minister.”
Indicating that Armour was a decision that would have been carefully considered, Ragoonath backed this up by stating, “I think he had a lot more success than Al-Rawi would have had in litigating matters over the years.”
He said Armour was suitably qualified to hold the post of AG.
Claiming the Al-Rawi’s reappointment was a “big, big demotion,” Ragoonath said the exchanging of ministerial portfolios between Robinson-Regis and Beckles-Robinson could be interpreted as one which is meant to get several initiatives back on track.
“Camille Robinson-Regis probably is more on the ground with regard to the party, and putting her back in housing would suggest that there is a need for the PNM to strengthen the push towards ensuring that the housing bank goes forward.”
He stressed that all moves would have been made with the notion of electioneering around.
Registering surprise over the resignation of Rambharat, whom he referred to as one who had found favour with the Prime Minister long before the 2015 general election, Ragoonath surmised, “I don’t think the word resignation is correct.”
Sharing the view that the reshuffling of Beckles-Robinson and Robinson-Regis was no more than a lateral move, political scientist Basdeo said the significant development of note was the demotion of Al-Rawi from AG to that of Local Government Minister.
Confirming this is not the first time that such a move has happened—as John Jeremie replaced Glenda Morean in the Patrick Manning administration and Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj replaced Kamla Persad-Bissessar in the Basdeo Panday administration—Basdeo said, “One can only speculate whether there was displeasure in his handling of the portfolio.”
Saying Armour was well respected in legal circles and eminently qualified to hold the post of AG, he questioned, “The things to be looking at now is the order of sitting when Parliament meets on Friday…where will the AG sit?”
In relation to the Senate, where Rambharat held the post of leader of government business, Basdeo continued, “We have to consider now who will take up the portfolio of Leader of Government Business?”
Speculating that more shock announcements could be forthcoming before the end of the week, both Ragoonath and Basdeo said it is a possible development that should not be ruled out.
