Dr. Keith Rowley Rising
Submitted by Christian Khabay on Wed, 05/05/2010 - 20:17
Patrick Manning mentioned a while ago that Kamla Persad Bissessar “scraped a dustbin”to find Errol Mcleod. Seems as if this dustbin scraping is not only reserved for the UNC. Whilst rummaging his own political dustbin Patrick Manning has pulled out Dr. Keith Rowley, whom he placed there in the first place. Forced in a corner I don’t think Mr. Manning had much of a choice in the matter. Upon seeing his entrance and obvious adoration by the Woodford Square crowd, it became clear that Mr. Manning has pulled out his own successor out of the dustbin.
The sequence of events that followed has predicated a wave of confusion rippling through the (usually well tuned) PNM machinery.
1. Dr. Rowley is confirmed and presented as the candidate for Deigo Martin West at Woodford Square. Although he is listed as a speaker, he unexplainably and mysteriously refuses to accede to the request. Rumor has it that his speech is to be vetted by Mr. Imbert which he finds insulting. According to the Neswday:
2. According to Dr. Rowley: “That’s yesterday’s news we are speaking on Thursday night at Four Roads. All those who have an interest, and I hope people have an interest, in that the campaign is launched and I will be the main speaker.” This meeting oddly threatens to upstage the PNM’s meeting at Chaguanas (being held simultaneously) where the featured speaker is none other than the Prime Minister.
3. To date both Dr. Rowley and Mr. Manning has appeared on the same platform twice, and on both occasions without saying a word Dr. Rowley has received ground-shaking ovation incomparable to any other candidate including the Prime Minister.
4. In what could be construed as his most incisive blow:
In true professional manner, Dr. Rowley lays to rest any doubt that once he is to serve the public interest he will, do what must be done. He doesn’t have to like the Prime Minister to serve him. Rowley said he was not going to engage in public displays of affection just for show and persons hired to deal with multi-billion dollar public business should not be hired based on affection.
Dr. Rowley’s public posturing (as has always been his style), is one of a deeply passionate-no-non-sense-wear-his-heart-on-his-sleeve-rock-of-consistency type of modern day anti-hero hell bent on standing his ground, no matter the cost. Uncommon characteristics for a politician.
And isn’t it this that has now endeared him to the electorate both PNM and non-PNM? Dr. Rowley has now found himself in the unique position of being the king of the underdogs. He’s stood his ground, bided his time and now he’s ready to play.
Mr. Manning alluded to Mrs. Bissessar’s mistakes on the campaign so far, one of the biggest being the dumping of Mickela Panday. Having missed the opportunity to place her in her father’s constituency, Mrs. Bissessar displayed animus instead of prudence. Whilst sound in analysis, an equally crippling blow (if not for the PNM but for Mr. Manning) is potentially awaiting.
Two scenarios are possible here and these two protagonists of this PNM story are needless to say quite aware of them both. The uneasiness of the situation threatens to explode if one of them were to play out.
The first is a PNM victory; in true PNM style it would be business as usual with Mr. Rowley consigned to the backbenches returned to irrelevance.
The second though, a loss is where the trouble starts. Will the PNM finally admit that Mr. Manning is actually the one out of control? Will they turn on him and quickly show him the door? Will they turn to Dr. Rowley to lead the charge, shed the arrogant image of the party, exploit his hero status and return the party to its core values? Or will Mr. Manning go gently into that good night awaiting him?
With one of these two eventualities coming faster and faster, the most disturbing question (for PNMites) that waits to be answered is this. Is Dr. Rowley hoping to win his battle but lose the war?
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Comments
Things I'd like Dr Rowley to explain...
Why is a vote for him is not a vote of acceptance of the PNM's previous handling of corruption allegations?
Isn't a vote for the PNM - whether in his constituency or in others - a vote for acceptance of how Mr Manning treated Dr Rowley?
Why did he become a PNM candidate in this general election when he was so spectacularly demoted from Cabinet - and subsequently vindicated by the evidence uncovered in the Uff Commission of Enquiry?
How should folks interpret his Leader's inability to publicly apologise for wrongfully accusing him and vilifying him in Parliament?
Even if we believe Dr Rowley is a lethal weapon against corruption in the PNM, the fact that he can be sidelined so effectively - as was done with his demotion, and then to add insult, replace him with someone who didn't match him in ministerial performance - means there's a gaping need for the PNM to explain how things would be different from 25th May if they are re-elected. If Patrick Manning remains the Hon. Prime Minister and the alleged mutual dislike between them is real, why should folks believe Dr Rowley would have any power to root out or prevent corruption in a PNM government?
Are folks in Diego Martin West just going to elect - if they vote for Dr Rowley - a back-bencher that the front-bench would continue to disrespect or dislike?
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[...] has a lot to explain from a dispassionate review of their terms in office since 2001, especially the treatment of Dr Keith Rowley after he became their UDeCOTT corruption whistle-blower. But the adage cuts both ways, and if applied to the UNC element of the coalition, there is also aq [...]