PORT-OF-SPAIN – Diego Martin West Member of Parliament (MP) Dr Keith Rowley is expected to be sworn in as Opposition Leader by President George Maxwell Richards on Friday at Knowsley, Queen’s Park West, Port-of-Spain.Rowley told the Express Monday that the President’s Office had been in touch with him, (as part of the consultation process) and he had indicated to that Office that it would receive two letters this morning.
One letter will bear ten signatures from People’s National Movement (PNM) MPs indicating to him (the president) that they support him (Rowley) as opposition leader, along with a separate letter in which he (Rowley) says he is willing to accept an appointment as opposition leader.The president is currently in Tobago and tomorrow is a public holiday (Corpus Christi), therefore the swearing in ceremony is scheduled for Friday.
Rowley said shortly after his appointment as opposition leader that he would announce who the PNM line-up in the Senate would be.“In the meantime I am consulting very widely within the party and outside of the party, but mainly within the party at this point in time to ensure that we get the best team that could go into the Senate and do the job,” he said.He added: “I would try and select the best that is available to the PNM.”
The opposition leader has a constitutional obligation to advise the president to appoint six senators. Party sources said yesterday that among the names being suggested are three former ministers – former deputy speaker Pennelope Beckles, Fitzgerald Hinds and Christine Sahadeo.Asked about the position of Chief Whip, Rowley said that by the time the Parliament opened on June 14, there would be a Chief Whip.“That’s an intra-Parliament thing. So when the Parliament convenes… (the Chief Whip) would be in place.”
The ten signatures on the letter to the president include former political leader Patrick Manning. (Trinidad Express)
