On January 4th 2024, the country received the surprising and relatively unexpected news that our Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley, will be stepping down after two terms in office.
The news sent shockwaves throughout the country as many began to speculate on the next steps. But in his voluntary resignation, Dr Rowley has changed the political landscape in Trinidad and Tobago for years to come and this in itself, will also form part of his illustrious legacy, as he rides off into the political sunset.
This move by Dr Rowley is groundbreaking for many reasons. Firstly, he is creating the template for two-term prime ministers. Generally, whenever a discussion on term limits takes place in the context of constitutional reform, the consensus usually coalesces, on a two-term limit, as in the US.
However, Dr Rowley has effectively instituted a voluntary two-term limit, on his own tenure as prime minister and he has shown that the allure of public office is not enough to entice him into a third term, despite a very good chance of winning, according to the latest NACTA polls.
This is certainly a standard and precedent other Prime Ministers will be held to, well into the future and Dr Rowley has created history in being the first to do so.
By voluntarily demitting office at the end of his term, Dr Rowley is allowing his party to engage in a level of succession planning and ease the transition. This will give the party the best chance to engage in a deliberate and hopefully dignified transition. A successor is already named and the party is going through its process but the point here is that the change is being deliberately embarked upon.
In doing so, Dr Rowley has allowed the party to gain a sense of being renewed, refreshed and reinvigorated. A cadre of relatively young but very experienced and capable stewards have been developed over the years, to man the ship and it seems that Dr Rowley is ready to leave the governance of the country in the hands of these individuals. This speaks to a level of long-term strategic thinking on the part of Dr Rowley, who is clearly focused on the future of the country and his party.
In my memory I cannot think of other political leaders who would have developed and executed a plan such as this for succession planning.
I assess that in choosing to retire as Prime Minister, at this time, Dr Rowley has put the UNC and especially its leader, Mrs. Kamla Persad Bissessar, under immense pressure. Of the two parties, the challenge to leadership and call for change was actually coming from the UNC side. A slate openly challenged the incumbents and became dissidents in parliament, calling for change in leadership. Many UNC stalwarts have publicly expressed the view that it is time for Persad-Bissessar to give up power, after two successive national electoral defeats and many others at the local level. There is the general view that she cannot lead the party into government and I believe this is a national sentiment as well. The question I am sure is being asked in hushed and not so hushed tones, within the UNC is, “when will Kamla resign too?”
The tired and failed UNC strategy of attacking Dr. Rowley, ranging from calling him racially charged names like “oreo” and “black (blank) man”, to now calling him the “old man”, will have to be overhauled.
Ironically the UNC now looks like the tired, old and stale party. I am not sure if the UNC can change course, on a habit which seems to be ingrained after fifteen years of failed practice.
Only time will tell how this all plays out but the PNM, a party of many historical firsts in this country, is again at the forefront of creating political history, on many levels and sending political shockwaves, which I think the population and its opponents are still dissecting, analysing and comprehending. Whatever the eventual outcomes, the PNM will enter the next general election being viewed as the refreshed and reinvigorated political party, that has an eye on the future.
Throughout all of this, Dr Rowley’s legacy will be cemented in this historical move and the lesson he taught throughout his career, when he said, “do not fall in love with public office”, now resonates through his actions, for history to note.
Vyash Nandlal is an economic researcher and advisor in the Office of the Prime Minister with more than 14 years’ experience in the field of economic and financial research and analysis. He holds professional qualifications in Economics and Finance and serves on the boards of several private, state and non-profit organisations.
Rowley’s Move – A Political Game Changer
On January 4th 2024, the country received the surprising and relatively unexpected news that our Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley, will be stepping down after two terms in office.
The news sent shockwaves throughout the country as many began to speculate on the next steps. But in his voluntary resignation, Dr Rowley has changed the political landscape in Trinidad and Tobago for years to come and this in itself, will also form part of his illustrious legacy, as he rides off into the political sunset.
This move by Dr Rowley is groundbreaking for many reasons. Firstly, he is creating the template for two-term prime ministers. Generally, whenever a discussion on term limits takes place in the context of constitutional reform, the consensus usually coalesces, on a two-term limit, as in the US.
However, Dr Rowley has effectively instituted a voluntary two-term limit, on his own tenure as prime minister and he has shown that the allure of public office is not enough to entice him into a third term, despite a very good chance of winning, according to the latest NACTA polls.
This is certainly a standard and precedent other Prime Ministers will be held to, well into the future and Dr Rowley has created history in being the first to do so.
By voluntarily demitting office at the end of his term, Dr Rowley is allowing his party to engage in a level of succession planning and ease the transition. This will give the party the best chance to engage in a deliberate and hopefully dignified transition. A successor is already named and the party is going through its process but the point here is that the change is being deliberately embarked upon.
In doing so, Dr Rowley has allowed the party to gain a sense of being renewed, refreshed and reinvigorated. A cadre of relatively young but very experienced and capable stewards have been developed over the years, to man the ship and it seems that Dr Rowley is ready to leave the governance of the country in the hands of these individuals. This speaks to a level of long-term strategic thinking on the part of Dr Rowley, who is clearly focused on the future of the country and his party.
In my memory I cannot think of other political leaders who would have developed and executed a plan such as this for succession planning.
I assess that in choosing to retire as Prime Minister, at this time, Dr Rowley has put the UNC and especially its leader, Mrs. Kamla Persad Bissessar, under immense pressure. Of the two parties, the challenge to leadership and call for change was actually coming from the UNC side. A slate openly challenged the incumbents and became dissidents in parliament, calling for change in leadership. Many UNC stalwarts have publicly expressed the view that it is time for Persad-Bissessar to give up power, after two successive national electoral defeats and many others at the local level. There is the general view that she cannot lead the party into government and I believe this is a national sentiment as well. The question I am sure is being asked in hushed and not so hushed tones, within the UNC is, “when will Kamla resign too?”
The tired and failed UNC strategy of attacking Dr. Rowley, ranging from calling him racially charged names like “oreo” and “black (blank) man”, to now calling him the “old man”, will have to be overhauled.
Ironically the UNC now looks like the tired, old and stale party. I am not sure if the UNC can change course, on a habit which seems to be ingrained after fifteen years of failed practice.
Only time will tell how this all plays out but the PNM, a party of many historical firsts in this country, is again at the forefront of creating political history, on many levels and sending political shockwaves, which I think the population and its opponents are still dissecting, analysing and comprehending. Whatever the eventual outcomes, the PNM will enter the next general election being viewed as the refreshed and reinvigorated political party, that has an eye on the future.
Throughout all of this, Dr Rowley’s legacy will be cemented in this historical move and the lesson he taught throughout his career, when he said, “do not fall in love with public office”, now resonates through his actions, for history to note.
Vyash Nandlal is an economic researcher and advisor in the Office of the Prime Minister with more than 14 years’ experience in the field of economic and financial research and analysis. He holds professional qualifications in Economics and Finance and serves on the boards of several private, state and non-profit organisations.