Rowley gives Young 3rd stint as acting PM… Decision seen as strategic, par for the course by analysts

There were mixed reactions yesterday after Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley named Stuart Young acting Prime Minister yet again, as he left the country to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2024 in Samoa.

In a statement on Sunday night, the Office of the Prime Minister said Young will serve in the absence of Rowley, who is travelling to Apia, Samoa, to represent T&T.

The move comes amid growing speculation surrounding Dr Rowley’s tenure as leader of the ruling People’s National Movement, following hints of his retirement during the recently concluded Budget debate, and who may be tipped to be his successor.

Both Young, the Energy Minister and a Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, and Minister of Youth Development and National Service Foster Cummings are said to be front runners for the leadership post, which will be constitutionally due within the party in 2026.

It also comes in the wake of Young facing backlash just last week for inappropriate comments towards Opposition leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar in a “hot mic” scenario during the Budget debate.

Young was forced to apologise to the House for the salacious comments he made against Persad-Bissessar after being reprimanded by House Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George and avoided being sent to the Privileges Committee.

Commenting on the decision to go with Young so soon after the public uproar over what was described by the House Speaker as disrespectful behaviour in the Parliament, political analyst Dr Indira Rampersad said while Young’s “hot mic” incident may have hurt his chances at becoming party leader, Dr Rowley’s decision to have him act as Prime Minister could still be strategic.

“It could also be the Prime Minister is putting Stuart Young forward as acting Prime Minister to get his supporters and the population comfortable for him as the leader, so it is a sort of initiation without election. We know it does not work that way but these are all strategies that politicians can try,” she said.

Dr Rampersad also offered an explanation as to why Finance Minister Colm Imbert, who previously regularly acted as prime minister in Rowley’s absence, has been overlooked.

“Imbert is one of the oldest serving MPs in the parliament and so I really do think that winding down is in order. I thought he was being given a period to deal with the budget but we’ve seen that happened in the post-Budget era that he is not being called upon.”

Imbert has represented the constituency of Diego Martin North/East since 1991. The last time he acted in the role of PM was in May.

Young, meanwhile, has now been chosen to act as PM on the last three occasions Rowley has left the country. He also acted in July and September.

Dr Rampersad also suggested that speculation surrounding the future of the PNM leadership was premised on whether Rowley’s retirement was imminent or not.

“What can happen is that he may go for this general election and when that leadership election comes around in 2026, he may decide he’s not going to run for election and may or may not support a candidate,” Rampersad said.

Meanwhile, political analyst Derek Ramsamooj contended that Young’s acting role as Prime Minister may be an inflated issue and not related to succession planning as being speculated, noting that the Prime Minister is within his right to choose anyone to serve in his absence.

“What we are seeing in the political landscape is a lot of political hedging where people are playing a political game with the future market of politics. It is the prerogative of any prime minister when he departs the country or is unable to carry the function to appoint who he sees is best suited to act in the role. There is a lot of speculation by the media and political stakeholders to read more than what is seen.”

Ramsamooj noted that throughout the country’s political history, former prime ministers have appointed different cabinet ministers at different points in time to act.

“There is nothing undue if a prime minister chooses to select a minister of his cabinet to act as a prime minister. What is unfortunate is the political bacchanal that is speculated by the media and Opposition that there is a division in politics.”

Former PNM general secretary Ashton Ford also yesterday maintained that Prime Minister Dr Rowley was not acting against the party’s constitution by selecting Young out of the party’s four deputy political leaders.

“I want to remind you that under Eric Williams, there were three deputy leaders and he appointed a senator to act as Prime Minister. Under Patrick Manning, he had deputy leaders and he appointed Dr Lenny Saith, a senator to act as Prime Minister.”

Ford maintained that there was no contention over Dr Rowley’s selection of a Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives to act as prime minister.

Opposition MP Roodal Moonilal also weighed in on the issue of whether Rowley was correct in picking Young to lead in his absence.

In a short response, Moonilal said, “Yes; Mr Young is his ‘mini-me’.”

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