Keith Rowley was installed as leader of the opposition People's National Movement (PNM) Saturday and as he accepted the responsibility he pledged to called on all who had left the party to "come back home".Rowley, who was unopposed for the five-year term, pledged to introduce a style of leadership that encourages criticism, dissent and "vigorous intellectual discussion" in the PNM.
"Speak up in this party without fear, without fear of victimisation, without fear of spite," Rowley declared in his inaugural speech at City Hall, Port of Spain.
"I will encourage you to say your piece, so you will never say that under my leadership, the General Council is a place where nobody talks.
"I will encourage you to be productively critical, as long as your criticism is respectful and is done without malice. Don’t expect to win every argument ... but make your contribution," he said.
Rowley told the delegates there will always be different views and urged everyone in the party to express express those views freely, promising that everyone will remain bonded by being PNM.
"And as we do that we will attract people to make a national contribution in the PNM. That is what will strengthen this party," he said.
"For quite some time this party has turned its back on intellectualism. As we did in an earlier time, we have to lead the intellectual discourse in Trinidad and Tobago on issues," he noted in an obvious reference to how the party was founded by Dr Williams and a team of thinkers.
He suggested that the party must "make space for new people" to address the changing reality of the country.
And he said the PNM must not now allow anyone to rewrite the country’s history and ignore what the PNM has done.
"It is for this party to stand proud of its successes," he declared.
Rowley announced that for now he is keeping the executive that served under Patrick Manning's leadership, including the four deputy political leaders.
"We know that we have to reform this party and that it requires changes...But we have a responsibility to ensure that when we are called to the polls, we put our best foot forward in the circumstances.
"We are in an election. This is not the time when we would be doing our major restructuring. The restructuring would come from July 27, we would be in that mode...we have an election to fight...the rallying cry today and onwards is all hands on deck," he declared.
He announced that that former health minister John Rahael would be his campaign manager for the elections, replacing Conrad Enill who had managed the general election campaigns.
Enill has resigned as party Chairman but will stay on the job for a while along with , General Secretary Martin Joseph.
Rowley acknowledged that the PNM is no longer the dominant force it used to be, adding that there is no shame in defeat "once the battle is fought honourably". The PNM "always fights honourably", he said.
And in a message to put a stamp on his leadership he told delegates: "None of us is immortal, invincible or irreplaceable".
Rowley promised to fulfill the responsibility of providing Trinidad and Tobago with an alternative government in the shortest possible time by examining itself at all levels.
"We said the PNM could not stay on the opposition benches hoping of the best and depending on luck.
"Luck has this very nasty habit of deserting you when you need it most...You can’t build a house on luck, you have to build it on sound fundamental principles," he stated and urged the PNM to be true to the the watchwords of discipline, tolerance and production.
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