Senior Investigative Reporter
shaliza.hassanali@guardian.co.tt
Ferdie Ferreira, a founding member of the People’s National Movement (PNM), says there is a level of “dissatisfaction, discomfort and disquiet” among party members and officers over Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s recent hint that Energy Minister Stuart Young is his possible replacement.
“It’s no secret there are quite a few members in the party—and prominent members—who are openly saying they would not support Stuart Young to succeed Rowley,” Ferreira, 92, said in an interview at his Diego Martin home.
He said some “party officers” have vehemently objected to Young taking over the leadership post when Rowley steps down.
“There is a level of discomfort in the party in terms of the projection of Young by the leader,” said Ferreira, who served the PNM in many capacities.
Earlier this month, Rowley gave his clearest indication that he is ready to retire from active politics. Several names have been tossed in the ring to replace Rowley.
Party insiders said the fight for leadership is between Young, the party’s chairman, and Minister of Youth Development and National Service Foster Cummings, the general secretary. However, Young, who has been dubbed the Minister of Everything, is considered the front-runner for the post.
Young is currently acting as Prime Minister for the third time.
Ferreira said party members “are openly saying they are not prepared to allow the leader (Rowley) to force Stuart Young upon them. They believe the bossman is trying to force Stuart Young upon them. They are saying it openly ... you are not going to force Stuart Young upon us.”
He said the problem facing the party is not one of leadership but rather succession, as some members feel Young is unfit to lead the party following his salacious statements about Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar two weeks ago.
However, while one faction within the PNM is against Young succeeding Rowley, Ferreira said another is backing him to be the successor.
Ferreira said there will always be disapprovals and approvals when selecting a new leader, he believes the foundation on which the PNM was built is “very strong and supreme.”
“Whoever they select, from my experience, will fall in line,” he said, noting that the PNM party has a history of its membership rallying behind its leader.
Ferreira recalled that the UNC faced a similar situation when then-political leader, the late Basdeo Panday, tried to anoint Carlos John as a deputy political leader. In the party’s internal elections members voted for Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj instead.
Ferreira said George Chambers and Patrick Manning, two of the PNM’s former political leaders, were appointed “by accident.”
Chambers was selected as political leader on the advice of then-party chairman Boysie Prevatt after the death of Dr Eric Williams. However, he bowed out of politics after the PNM lost 33-3 to the National Alliance for Reconstruction in the 1986 general election.
The three seats were captured by Manning, Morris Marshall and Muriel Donawa Mc Davidson.
“Muriel was the most senior in the party but the PNM was not ready for a female leader and Manning happened to be in the right place at the right time and was appointed leader,” Ferreira.
When Manning lost the 2010 general election to Persad-Bissessar’s party, he was chased out of Balisier House and Rowley was selected to lead the PNM.
“It was a general council that agreed and voted to install Rowley as political leader.”
Ferreira said the PNM has never had a succession plan in its 68-year history.
“What is brewing here is unprecedented in the party,” he said.