Rowley will run as PNM candidate: Report

Patrick Manning has scored a strategic coup as he prepares to battle the opposition in the upcoming general election.

The screening committee, which Manning heads has agreed to nominate Dr Keith Rowley as the People's National Movement (PNM) candidate in Diego Martin West for the election, according to a report in the Trinidad Express, quoting reliable sources.

There was speculation that Rowley would be kicked out because of the open verbal warfare between the two men since Manning kicked Rowley out of cabinet when he questioned oversight rules regarding a project being handled by UDeCOTT.

Manning subsequently accused Rowley of being involved in a missing $10 million from a housing project undertaken during Rowley's tenure as housing minister. It turns out the money was never missing.

Rolwey has under been under intense scrutiny by Manning and he had stated that the next election would be fought over corruption and UDeCOTT. However he always maintained that he would never desert his party. When Manning dissolved Parliament he announced his intention to run again if his constituency nominated him.

He won the support of the constituency as expected and after a brief appearance Tuesday before the PNM's screening committee he got the nod, according to the report.

The move is strategic because it effectively silences Rowley as a Manning critic during the election. If the former cabinet minister was left out there was the risk that he would have been a one-man critics of Manning, with the risk of him causing severe damage to the party's chances of victory in the election.

The Express said the decision came after intense lobbying by influential and highly regarded persons in the national community, who sought to convince Manning that Rowley’s inclusion as a member of the PNM team was absolutely critical for the PNM’s success at the polls.

The Express said its sources reported that Rowley told the committee his commitment to the party was never in question and assured members that he has no antagonism to any party member, including Manning.

The sources said Rowley insisted that all he has done is to defend himself, his integrity, his character and his family and he said he would continue to do so.

He insisted that he would defend himself every day of the week from attacks on his character and his family, coming from any quarter.

Rowley did not confirm or deny that he has won the nomination. But he told the Express he was satisfied with the manner in which the screening was conducted.

"The range of questions were pertinent, current, and firm, and I was glad that I got a chance to respond to them," the paper quoted Rowley as saying.

He said, "If...the party feels that I am an asset to the party and can contribute to national development, I am here to continue to contribute."