(Trinidad Express) In a historic first, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley yesterday announced his imminent early retirement from the office of Prime Minister and his decision not to contest a seat in the next Parliament.
The move signals the end of an era in the ruling party.
While he did not give a precise date for this retirement, he announced at a news conference in Tobago that he would retire “before the end of the legal limit of this (parliamentary) term”.
Parliament must be dissolved before August 28 and elections must be held within 90 days of its dissolution.
The outer limit therefore is the end of November.
If the Prime Minister sticks to his word and resigns before the dissolution of Parliament, it means the President would have to appoint a new prime minister.
It also means when the PNM enters the election battleground, it will be with a new leader of the Government.
That person—the new prime minister—will have to be the member of the current House of Representatives who, in the “judgment of the President, is most likely to command the support of the majority of members of that House and who is willing to accept the office of Prime Minister”.
The Prime Minister said yesterday that Parliament “dissolves at the end of August…and then there are 90 days beyond that by which elections must be called”.
Rowley indicated that he continues to be political leader of the PNM.
If he does continue in this position, it will be another first where the country would have a prime minister who is not the political leader of the ruling party.
Caught off-guard
While many Cabinet ministers were expecting an announcement, they had no idea when exactly it would come and were caught off guard yesterday.
Rowley, who has been under pressure to disclose his political plans and who appeared at times to be wavering, has been facing some criticism for the lack of clarity about his political future.
His action of bowing out is unprecedented in the PNM and indeed in Trinidad and Tobago, where former prime ministers have either gone into opposition (in the case of Basdeo Panday, Patrick Manning, ANR Robinson and Kamla Persad-Bissessar); have died in office (as in the case of Dr Eric Williams) or were voted out of the Parliament (as in the case of George Chambers).
This has also been predominantly the pattern in the Caribbean, with the one notable exception being PJ Patterson of Jamaica who stepped down in 2006 as PM.
Speaking from his Tobago hometown hours before the start of a two-day parliamentary retreat, the Prime Minister dropped the retirement bombshell that he had been toying with for the last four years when on the night of the general election victory of August 2020, he first teased the population about his departure, saying:
“This could easily be my last term in politics in Trinidad and Tobago. I am not one of those politicians who believe that when you come into politics you should go out feet first.”
Dramatic disclosures
Yesterday, Rowley first dealt with his parliamentary position as Diego Martin West MP, stating: “I am here with my colleagues this weekend (for the retreat), and one of the things that they will be told is that I will not be offering myself again to represent anyone either in Trinidad or in Tobago. Forty-five years is a long time and I would like at this time to say thank you appropriately along the way to all those who have supported my effort, and to (who I) have benefited from; I hope I have positively impacted this country some way, sometime.”
The Prime Minister then dealt with his position as political leader, saying: “As we settle Tobago’s screenings tomorrow (for Tobago East and Tobago West seats), I continue to be the political leader of the PNM. We will call for nominations in the other seats where I represent the people of Diego Martin West, who have supported me resolutely from 1991 to now. And I will thank them appropriately and ensure that they are not left adrift. But I will not be offering myself, as I just said.”
The Prime Minister thereafter dealt with the office of Prime Minister, stating: “I will say something else. Before the end of the legal limits of this term, I will resign this office and go off to my family.”
After these politically dramatic disclosures, the Prime Minister abruptly ended the news conference, saying: “Thank you all very much and see you again sometime soon.”
Who is your leader?
The Prime Minister’s announcement of his retirement has put the prime ministerial succession issue firmly on the agenda at this weekend parliamentary retreat in Tobago. Cabinet members, senators, party members and supporters yesterday were all asking the same questions—who will replace Keith Rowley as Prime Minister? And will Rowley take a stand in the prime ministerial succession issue?
The elected MPs who sources indicate have a personal interest in the leadership succession race are Foster Cummings, Stuart Young, Pennelope Beckles and Faris Al-Rawi, who are all members of the House of Representatives.
Responding to the news, deputy political leader and Minister of Education Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly yesterday said she was sad, but she understood Rowley’s decision. “I am happy that he is going to devote some time to the things that matter the most, which is family,” Gadsby-Dolly stated.
“The Prime Minister has been like my political father. I consider him like my political hero. To have survived in the political space for 45 years is difficult and challenging, and speaks to the quality of character…And I continue to be so impressed by him.
“Regardless of who may agree with what he does, or who may not agree, he serves fearlessly and to the best of his ability, and I admire that greatly. He is the one who brought me into politics and gave me, as a young person, a chance…It is like the end of an era,” she added.
PNM stalwart and former general secretary Ashton Ford said the party’s constitution will be tested with Rowley’s announcement of his intention to step down. “In the past it was an easy passage when it came to replacement of incumbent prime ministers and political leaders…Buckle up. Politically exciting times ahead. Party loyalty should be the main focus,” Ford said.
Both Cummings, Young and Al-Rawi declined comment, while Beckles could not be reached.
