Chairman of the People's National Movement's (PNM) Diego Martin West executive, Susan Hong says incumbent MP Dr Keith Rowley is expected to take to the party's national platform in support its re-election to government.
"Whatever the leadership of the party decides with respect to Dr Rowley, we will accept," she added, during a telephone interview yesterday. Rowley was very critical of Prime Minister Patrick Manning over his handling of the controversial Urban Development Corporation of T&T matter. He has repeatedly said he was fired as Trade and Industry Minister in April 2008, because of his demands for Cabinet oversight of the state-owned special purposes company. He said former executive chairman Calder Hart had too much power in the conduct of its business. Udecott continues to manage many of the Government's billion-dollar construction projects.
Hart has since resigned from the company, which now has as its chairman, Jearlean John. "Rowley is one of our best speakers in the PNM and we are quite sure that because he was selected as a candidate, he will speak on the national platform," Hong said. Speaking in Parliament during the 2009 budget debate, Rowley said the next general election in T&T would be the Udecott election.
During a brief interview after the Parliament was dissolved on April 8, Rowley said he would like the PNM to be returned to power. Asked if he could work in a future PNM Government under Manning, Rowley said that he was prepared to work with anybody in the interest of Trinidad and Tobago. Rowley is out of the country and is expected to return home tomorrow. He was nominated unopposed by party groups in the constituency. He was first elected MP in the 1991 general election. He has served as Minister of Agriculture, Housing, Planning and Development and Trade and Industry in previous administrations led by Manning.