Young the next man to lead PNM?
Joshua Seemungal
Senior Multimedia Journalist
joshua.seemungal@guardian.co.t
In the span of ten and a half years, Stuart Young, SC, has moved from an established attorney lacking political experience, working his way up the ladder to temporary opposition senator in 2014, junior minister in 2015, senior minister in 2018, and now the acting Prime Minister of T&T.
There is a belief in political circles and public discussions that Minister Young is favoured to eventually replace Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley as the PNM political leader.
However, there are mixed views from within the party about that possibility. Senior government and opposition sources, who spoke with Guardian Media on the condition of anonymity, agreed that Minister Young is a good or, at the least, a competent minister.
The first government source called Young, also the PNM chairman, a useful asset but felt he lacks the necessary empathetic connection with ‘the ground’ at this time to make an effective political leader. The senior government source also doubted whether Young could inspire the country as a prime minister.
“Both the PNM and UNC are going to come across a leadership issue, but the choice of the next political leader of the PNM will be a larger conversation than the choice of the next UNC leader,” as the PNM is currently in government, the member added.
A second senior government source spoke very highly of Young, describing him as intelligent and full of integrity. “Down the line, would he make a good leader? I think so because he’s very driven and, like Dr Rowley, he cares a lot about this country. He’s a patriot,” the source said.
“The leadership position is not being discussed now because we have a leader. In the future, when there is a vacancy, I will not hesitate to follow Stuart,” the second PNM member said.
The first government source acknowledged that Minister Young’s appointment as acting Prime Minister is the talk of the party.
The source stated that some party insiders believe the move is more of an attempt to retire Finance Minister Colm Imbert, who has acted as PM on several occasions in the past nine years, than to promote Young. Imbert was described to Guardian Media as ‘uninspiring’ by some party members.
According to the first government source, there is a view within the party and in the public that Imbert can be standoffish and condescending. Imbert’s treatment of journalists was highlighted as an example, as was his public attack against individuals or organisations raising concerns about the governance of the country.
Meanwhile, Young’s response to criticism from former Republic Financial Holdings Limited chairman Ronald Harford raised eyebrows and was perceived by many as confrontational.
“We belong in this damn country, and the politicians are here to serve us … We must no longer be spectators … It’s quite remarkable that this is an oil and gas country and we have no plan for oil and gas production,” Harford, a Chaconia Gold Medal recipient, reportedly said in a daily newspaper.
In response, Young was quoted as saying that whenever somebody becomes a ‘former,’ their ‘mouths get big.’
“As chairman, you were removed; you were not elected chairman. And when it came to an election, you couldn’t get the support to continue,” Young rebuked Harford.
A senior opposition member also referenced the incident in which Harford was publicly berated, labelling Young as “dismissive and confrontational.” The experienced politician described Young’s action as “a response learnt from Rowley.”
A UNC member described Young as “a reasonably decent and competent professional.” However, the individual felt that he was consumed by the “hubris of public office.”
“His rise to power is perceived as more aligned with political loyalty than expertise … I do not believe that the energy sector progressed under his leadership. The sector’s structural issues remain, while critics point to a lack of significant progress in long-term energy strategy,” the Opposition member said. A PNM member, in Young’s defence, felt he is a respectful and approachable individual.
“I’ve known him for quite some time, even when I didn’t hold a position, and he didn’t have to be polite or kind. I have a friend, whom he represented free of charge over something that was an unfair situation, and I admire him since then,” the PNM member said.
Moving Up the Batting Order
Ahead of the 2015 general election, Young was selected by the PNM to contest the Port-of-Spain North/St Ann’s West seat.
When PNM returned to government in 2015, he was appointed Minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs and Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM).
He also acted as Attorney General in the absence of former AG Faris Al-Rawi. In June 2018, Young received his first full-fledged ministerial appointment as Communications Minister.
Two months later, in August, he replaced Edmund Dillon as National Security Minister.
It now seemed Young was the Prime Minister’s right-hand man. “He is that good … Remember Garry Sobers? Well, he is my Garry Sobers. Sobers was the world’s best batsman; he was the West Indies’ best orthodox left-hand bowler, he was a slow bowler, he was the West Indies’ opening pace bowler, he was also the sharpest fielder on the West Indies team,” the PM boasted at a 2019 Pt Fortin political meeting.
Testing Times
In May 2019, the Opposition called for Young’s firing, with 206 murders reported in his first 147 days as minister. That month, the UNC also called for an investigation into NCB Global Finance’s relationship with the Government. NCB Global Finance’s CEO was Angus Young, Stuart’ Young’s brother.
In June 2019, Young led a registration process for Venezuelan migrants. 16,500 migrants took part. In March 2020, the country reported its first case of COVID-19. Later that month, the minister announced a border closure to prevent the spread. But, in turn, thousands of nationals were stranded abroad.
The Government faced heavy criticism for the length of the border closure and its exemption system. In April 2020, the Barbados Government complained of being disturbed by a comment from Young.
33 T&T nationals returning home from a cruise to Dubai stopped in Barbados to be quarantined. Young complained that a Caricom country should not be used as a “jumping-off point” for T&T nationals wanting to return home, compromising the country’s border policy.
In May 2020, he faced intense pressure from the Opposition over his handling of the March visit of Venezuela’s Executive Vice President Delcy Rodriguez in an aircraft sanctioned by the US Government, while the borders were closed. Rodriguez’s flight was unknown until the Opposition went public.
The UNC revealed that several former and present PDVSA (Venezuelan state oil company) executives were present at the meeting. When pressed for more information, Young claimed the conversation was about COVID-19 and the Venezuelan population. Rodriguez’s visit also attracted the attention of the US Government.
US Ambassador Joseph Mondello confirmed that he expressed concern to Young about Rodriguez’s visit in a meeting. A week earlier, Young was quoted in the Senate as saying that a potential breach of the Rio Treaty was not raised. He later complained that his words were misconstrued.
Despite heavy pressure, Young refused to resign, and the Prime Minister stood by him.
Young and the Government came under fire again in February 2022 for the response to the diving tragedy, where four men—Fyzal Kurban, Kazim Ali Jr, Rishi Nagassar, and Yusuf Herny—died inside a Paria Fuel Trading Company pipeline in Point-a-Pierre while conducting maintenance work. A commission of enquiry began in November 2022.
Its report, laid in January 2024, recommended that the Director of Public Prosecutions should consider charging Paria with corporate manslaughter.
Average number of murders per day as National Security Minister
(from first full year)
Gary Griffith – 1.12
Carl Alfonso – 1.03
Edmund Dillon – 1.33
Stuart Young – 1.23
Fitzgerald Hinds – 1.55
Average number of total serious crimes per day as National Security Minister (from first full year)
Gary Griffith – 32.9
Carl Alfonso – 28.2
Edmund Dillon – 33
Stuart Young – 27.1
Fitzgerald Hinds – 31.5
Renewed Energy
In April 2021, Young became the new Minister of Energy and Energy Industries. In May 2021, NGC signed a three-year contract with Tringen to ensure that two ammonia plants, partly owned by Yara International, continued operations. In October 2021, Young reported that the T&T Government signed a Manatee Project deal with Shell.
“In a few weeks, I’m hoping we’ll be able to sign that agreement that is going to keep this single largest new gas production contract and gas production in Trinidad and Tobago for decades,” the minister stated.
In September 2022, Young joined the PM on a European trip to meet with major global companies to discuss future investments and renegotiate contracts. In November 2022, Young was elected as the PNM chairman.
In December 2023, the Government signed an agreement with Venezuela to jointly produce and export natural gas from the Dragon Gas field.
In June 2024, President Christine Kangaloo appointed him as a senior counsel on the advice of the Cabinet.
In July 2024, OWTU President General Ancel Roget burnt photographs of PM Rowley and Young following news that Naveen Jindal, the chairman of Jindal Steel and Power Ltd, met with the PM to discuss the Pointe-a-Pierre oil refinery.
On July 28, Young was appointed as acting Prime Minister for the first time.
Recusals
One continuous opposition criticism of Minister Young has been about Cabinet recusals. The Opposition claimed that Young’s recusals are a reflection of, what they call, the Government’s elitism.
Between September 9, 2015, and April 24, 2023, according to Freedom of Information Act Request documents obtained by Freedom Law Chambers, headed by former AG Anand Ramlogan, SC, Minister Young accounted for 101 recusals, or 36 per cent of all Cabinet recusals.
Recusals by Numbers (September 15, 2015, to April 24, 2023)
1) Stuart Young – 101
2) Faris Al-Rawi – 60
3) Rohan Sinanan – 23
4) Terrance Deyalsingh – 19
5) Randall Mitchell – 13
6) Keith Rowley – 8
7) Colm Imbert – 7
8) Daryl Smith – 6
9) Camille Regis Robinson – 5
9) Allyson West – 5
9) Kazim Hosein – 5
10) Amery Browne – 4
11) Edmund Dillon – 3
11) Anthony Garcia – 3
11) Franklyn Khan – 3
12) Paula Gopee-Scoon – 2
12) Nyan Gadsby-Dolly – 2
12) Foster Cummings – 2
12) Clarence Rambharat – 2
12) Reginald Armour – 2
13) Fitzgerald Hinds – 1
13) Symon De Nobriga – 1
13) Robert Le Hunte – 1
Young: Recusal universally accepted and part of good governance
Young, in a Guardian Media interview in August 2023 not published before, said recusal was a universally accepted and an encouraged part of good and proper governance. He added that he has faithfully upheld the laws of the country.
“As a member of Cabinet, from day one, I have recused myself beyond what is legally required of me. I have recused myself from Cabinet Notes once they merely mentioned the NCBJ group even on occasions where they have not even submitted a bid for financing, which means that I have even recused myself from Cabinet discussions where the NCBJ group has not even participated in the competitive tendering process.
“This decision of mine is responsible for almost all of the recusals recorded in my name and is based on the fact that my younger brother is an employee of the group. It should be noted that the record reflects that the NCBJ group has been awarded less than three per cent of all government financing.
“The continued promotion of a narrative by the UNC Opposition and its agents that there is something wrong or illegal with rescuing oneself from deliberations and decision-making is simply part of their desperation and continued disregard for what is right. I state without fear of contradiction that my family and I have never financially benefited from my holding of office. I assure the people of Trinidad and Tobago that I will continue to give my best and will continue to serve without fear, favour, malice, or ill will.”
Yesterday, he said he still stands by his comments.
‘I advocate for the less fortunate and fight for the underdog’
Young, responding to Guardian Media on issues raised about his personality and ability to lead the PNM, said, “I have been a member of the Cabinet of Trinidad and Tobago for nine years. During that time I have held many portfolios and been exposed to a very wide range of invaluable experiences for which I am eternally grateful. I have always given my best and worked honestly and professionally in whatever task I was given.
“It is undeniable that some of the tasks were difficult ones that would have attracted criticism, both warranted and unwarranted. I am always willing to listen and to improve. I am certain that everything I have done was done with the highest level of integrity and with an acknowledgement of the responsibility that I have to the people of Trinidad and Tobago.
“There are some instances where, in hindsight, I could have handled them differently, and I learn from those for the next occasion.
“I am not surprised by some of the comments that you have indicated were made as individuals have different perspectives and even agendas. In the field of politics, you will never please everyone, especially those who may have agendas that are not in the public’s best interest, and especially when your position doesn’t align with their particular self-interest.
“I have heard the narrative being pushed by those who may be uncomfortable with my progress in politics that I am not connected to the ‘ground’, and I simply smile at this commentary. The truth is that I am one who constantly advocates for those that may be less fortunate, and I relish the fight for the underdog. My interactions with the public, especially as I move around Trinidad and Tobago at the ground level, are always an energising and rewarding one.
“I never concern myself about not being given credit or accolades for what I have done whilst holding public office, as I am a strong believer in working hard, with integrity and letting the results speak for themselves.
“I will conclude by saying that I am grateful for the many different opportunities that I have been given by the Prime Minister and political leader of the PNM, Dr Rowley, by the PNM party, and by the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, and I will continue to serve without fear or favour, malice, or ill will.”
The post Young the next man to lead PNM? first appeared on CNC3.