endorsement letter for Energy Minister Stuart Young to succeed Prime Minister Keith Rowley, have assured they will sign eventually—but they first want to hear the views from the general council members on the selection issue at the party’s Balisier House, Port-of-Spain headquarters today.

And some PNMites who are concerned about the process used to decide on a successor, have a motion in the works for debate at today’s council session, proposing that Rowley step down immediately as leader—but remain as Prime Minister—and for the party’s internal election to be held by March 31 rather than September, top PNM sources said yesterday.

This, after Thursday’s central executive meeting which deferred all business concerning the leadership/successorship issues to today’s general counsel. Today’s meeting brings to a head simmering heat in the Government following the recent parliamentary caucus in Tobago where—following Rowley’s recent retirement announcement—Young received votes from 11 MPs to succeed Rowley when he resigns ahead. Planning Minister Pennelope Beckles received nine.

In the caucus discussions, Young and Beckles had expressed willingness to lead while MPs Faris Al-Rawi and Foster Cummings agreed to stand down from the interim leadership position until convention, it’s understood. The selection process resulting in Young—who’s been appointed to act as PM since last July whenever Rowley was overseas—being selected, raised contention among some PNMites, including in its executive and among certain MPs.

Arguments include that Rowley, who has been a democracy advocate, “went against” that with a selection process where the members had no say. Subsequently, the nine MPs who voted for Beckles didn’t sign a recent endorsement letter for Young’s name to be sent to the President as the prime ministerial choice when Rowley steps down. It was expected they would have, as agreed in Tobago.

Party sources noted that since the selection of Young as his successor, Rowley has been expressing his confusion over the matter and surprise at the apparent mischief-making within the party. After Thursday’s short central executive meeting at Balisier House, PNM sources said a meeting of the party’s Parliamentary caucus of MPs was also held there with Rowley. (Guardian.co.tt)