Rowley takes charge of the PNM Sunday

Keith Rowley takes charge of the People's National Movement (PNM) Sunday with his official installation as the party's fourth leader in its 54-year history. He succeeds Patrick Manning who was forced to resign after the party's humiliating loss in the May 24 general election.

The party had planned a special leadership convention for Sunday but cancelled it after no one challenged Rowley for the post. Colm Imbert, who had said he might contest the leadership election, dropped out saying he did it "for peace in the party".

The other possible contender - Pennelope Beckles-Robinson, who now leads opposition business in the Senate - stated that she was more interested in helping rebuild the party than in leading it.

PNM chairman Conrad Enill will formally hand over the party's leadership to Rowley at an installation ceremony at City Hall, Port of Spain. It will be his last act as chairman.

Enill and PNM General Secretary Martin Joseph have resigned to give Rowley a free hand to determine the party's new executive structure.

Enill said the party has invited all MPs, Senators and members of the general council to the function but was unable to confirm if Manning would attend.

Rowley's sudden rise from being a pariah and a "wajang" came as a surprise to many PNMites. Few expected this turn of events.

When Manning fired Rowley from cabinet and took every opportunity inside and outside of Parliament to cast aspersions on his character it seemed clear that Rowley's political demise was near.

But the Diego Martin West MP was determined to stand up to Manning while maintaining his strong allegiance to the party. He was able to attract the support of many colleagues and PNM members who felt that it was time for Manning to go.

It was that revolt from inside the PNM that contributed to Manning's gamble of calling an unnecessary general election more than two years before it was due.

Manning fought hard to keep Rowley out of the election but the pressure from inside caused him to back down. Once on the team, Rowley made it clear that he was fighting for the PNM, not Manning.

While he urged supporters not to desert the "captain" and throw him overboard, he made it clear that once the election was over there would be a "court martial". He expected the PNM to lose the election and was determined to ensure that Manning take full responsibility for it and make a hasty exit.

That triggered a reaction that helped the People's Partnership coalition to build on the momentum it had already created ever since Persad-Bissessar beat Basdeo Panday in January and became leader of the opposition United National Congress.

Once the election result was confirmed the PNM demanded and received Manning's resignation, reducing him from leader to ordinary MP.

Rowley's immediate task is to start to rebuild the party, attract funding and at the same time fight an election on July 26.

His party had postponed the Local Government election four times in order to create reforms to the system but Kamla Persad-Bissessar pledged during the election campaign to hold the election on schedule. When she became Prime Minister, she kept the promise.

Rowley had "applied" for the job of political leader of the PNM before but was squeezed out by Manning, who went on to re-brand the party and push aside many of the party stalwarts like Kamlauddin Mohammed and Errol Mahabir.

Now, after a devastating PNM performance and the government's fall under the weight of allegations of the worst corruption ever in the country, Rowley's task is to restore confidence and trust in the party and make it acceptable to the population.

Supporters believe he is the best person for the job and he has pledged to return the party to its founding principles.

He will be competing in a political landscape that has changed dramatically since Eric Williams "cast down his bucket" in 1956 and created the PNM. In this changed environment the people have taken charge of their destiny and are fully aware that politicians must answer to them.

The People's Partnership wrote the epitaph for the "apan jaat" rum and roti politics that had dvided the country for decades and Rowley can only hope to succeed if the PNM follows the same path.