All 21 Members of Parliament (MPs) representing the People’s National Movement (PNM) have signed a document endorsing Stuart Young as the successor to Dr. Keith Rowley as Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister, once Rowley steps down.
This unanimous decision comes after a week of internal debate and reconciliation following the party’s retreat in Tobago.
At the retreat, Young received majority support, with 11 MPs backing him over rival candidate Pennelope Beckles, who garnered nine votes. However, initial hesitation from eight MPs to formalize their support in writing prompted tensions within the party. Those concerns were resolved before Saturday’s PNM General Council meeting at Balisier House in Port of Spain, where the MPs confirmed their commitment to Young.
During the meeting, Dr. Rowley directly addressed claims that he had influenced MPs to support Young during the retreat. In a symbolic gesture, he asked all MPs to stand if they had been pressured by him to vote for Young. None stood, signaling their independent choice.
Sources revealed that Rowley had set a deadline for MPs to sign the endorsement document, and by the meeting’s end, all signatures had been secured. He reportedly expressed disappointment at the initial reluctance, calling it an embarrassment after MPs had agreed to respect the retreat’s outcome.
PNM leadership rallies behind Stuart Young
Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, PNM General Secretary Foster Cummings confirmed the unanimous support for Young.
“All 21 Members of the House of Representatives have signed to agree and approve Minister Stuart Young to take over the office of Prime Minister upon the retirement of Prime Minister Rowley. We are united behind Minister Young,” Cummings said.
Young, who also serves as PNM Chairman, emphasized the party’s unified front moving forward. “What you are going to see is the rollout of Team PNM—a strengthened, unified party with much to offer the population,” he stated. Young clarified that the signed document was not a resignation letter but a collective commitment to support him as Rowley’s successor.
Seamless transition planned
Cummings and Young assured that the party is prepared for a seamless transition. While no timeline has been set for Rowley’s resignation, Young said the process has been “signed, sealed, and delivered.” Both leaders reiterated that Rowley remains the political leader of the PNM and Prime Minister until he decides otherwise.
San Fernando West MP Faris Al-Rawi hailed the outcome as historic, noting that it represents a breaking of racial barriers within the PNM. “Today, the PNM has broken the racial glass ceiling that many said could never be broken, where a non-African person could occupy the office of Prime Minister in a PNM Government,” Al-Rawi said.
No debate on political leadership
Despite discussions on leadership, no motions concerning Rowley’s role as political leader were tabled at the General Council meeting. Rowley’s earlier announcement of a September 28 party convention was also not discussed.
Al-Rawi explained that while the MPs unanimously supported Stuart Young as Prime Minister, some had initially raised questions about whether the party’s political leadership should also be addressed before the next general election. However, no decisions were made on this matter, with leaders emphasizing the current focus on the transition for Prime Minister.
As the PNM moves forward, its leaders have pledged to present a unified and revitalized image to the public, signaling stability and consensus within the party.
