Young has chance to make big cabinet changes as PM

ENERGY Minister Stuart Young will officially take charge as prime minister on March 17 when he is sworn into this post.

But Young's appointment, which was public knowledge since January, may not be the only change that happens on that day. One provision of the Constitution suggests cabinet ministers relinquish their posts when a prime minister is either appointed or re-appointed.

This creates a scenario for small or large changes to the Cabinet, depending on what Young may decide. The appointment of posts to the Cabinet lies within the sole prerogative of the prime minister.

Senior government officials made these comments, under condition of strict anonymity, on March 14.

Dr Rowley announced his decision to retire from electoral politics on January 6. At a subsequent parliamentary retreat in Tobago, he said Young was selected to succeed him as prime minister.

After a PNM general council meeting in Port of Spain on January 11, party general secretary Foster Cummings said 20 PNM MPs had pledged support to Young as prime minister. On the same day, it was announced the party would hold its convention on September 28 to decide who will succeed Rowley as political leader. He has held this post since 2010.

At a ceremony on February 26, for the Works and Transport Ministry's commissioning of the the O’Meara Road upgrade project, Rowley officially announced March 16 as his final day as prime minister.

The PNM will present its 41 election candidates at a special convention at Woodford Square, Port of Spain on that day.

Rowley and Young will give the feature addresses at the rally.

There is speculation Rowley could resign as PNM political leader then.

In addition to resigning as prime minister, Rowley is not standing for re-election as Diego Martin West MP. Hans Des Vignes is the PNM's candidate for this constituency, represented by Rowley since 1991.

Government officials said Young will be sworn in as prime minister on March 17 at 10 am at the Office of the President.

The PNM has 22 MPs in the House of Representatives and 15 members in the Senate.

One official said the remaining 21 MPs (including Rowley) and the 15 senators will attend Young's swearing in.

Young is also Port of Spain North/St Ann's West MP. He will be sworn in as prime minister under the provisions of Section 76 of the Constitution.

But a second official said there could be more changes to the government on March 17.

This official added this is allowed under Section 77 (3)(a) of the Constitution.

Provisions within this section allow for the appointment of government ministers on the occasion of the appointment of a new prime minister.

This official said these provisions imply that as of 10 am on March 17, when Rowley demits office and before Young replaces him, there may be no cabinet in place.

A third official said this means there could be more than one swearing in taking place at the Office of the President on March 17.

One question is whether Young, once he is appointed prime minister, retains his current portfolio as energy minister.

Given Young's new responsibilities, there is the possibility of Finance Minister Colm Imbert replacing Young in this post. Imbert has acted as energy minister several times during the nine years the PNM has been in office since September 2015.

A fourth official said current High Commissioner to the UK, Vishnu Dhanpaul, could be recalled and appointed finance minister. Dhanpaul was a former permanent secretary in that ministry.

There are questions whether Attorney General Reginald Armour could retain his post or be replaced.

Under the Constitution, a cabinet comprises a prime minister and an attorney general. Should there be any changes here, this will be addressed immediately after Young's swearing-in.

Whether National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds retains his post on March 17 also remains to be seen. Hinds, the Lavantille West MP, did not offer himself to be screened as a nominee for any constituency for this year's general election.

Port of Spain South MP Keith Scotland, currently a Minister in the National Security Ministry, could succeed Hinds. Young could choose another MP, senator or bring in someone else to become national security minister if Hinds is replaced.

A fifth official said while there is a lot of speculation about possible changes to the government under Young, those questions would be answered on March 17 .

Two senior PNM officials, also speaking on condition of anonymity, recalled there were ministerial changes when prime minister Dr Eric Williams died on March 29, 1981 and he was later succeeded by George Chambers.

One official said, "No minister resigned (then)."

The official said small changes were made, adding the portfolios of finance, agriculture, industry and commerce to Chambers' portfolio as prime minister.

Chambers was agriculture and industry and commerce minister before Williams died.

A second official said when Chambers' appointment as prime minister was approved by a PNM convention later in the year, Chambers announced larger changes to the Cabinet.

PUT IN BOX

THE CONSTITUTION

What section 76 says:

76 (1) (a) The President shall appoint as Prime Minister "a member of the House of Representatives who is the leader in that House of the party that commands the support of the majority of members of that House."

76 (1) (b) The President shall appoint as Prime Minister "where it appears to him that the party does not have an undisputed leader in the House or that no party commands the support of such a majority, the member of the House of Representatives, who in his judgement, is likely to command the support of the majority of members of that House, and who is willing to accept the office of Prime Minister.

Section 77 of the Constitution allows for other possible ministerial changes

What section 77 says:

77 (3) A Minister other than the Prime Minister shall vacate his office—

(a) when any person is appointed or re-appointed as Prime Minister;

(b) where for any reason other than a dissolution of Parliament he ceases to be a member of the House from among the members of which he was appointed;

(c) where his appointment is revoked by the President acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister.