Rowley was acclaimed leader five months ago when the party hounded Patrick Manning out of office after the former Prime Minister called an early election and lost. Rowley and some of his supporters actively campaigned against Manning during the general election in May.
While all MPs - including Manning - have publicly supported Rowley there are rumblings from some of them who blame Rowley for the decline in the party's support and the humiliating defeat in the July Local Government Elections.
Rowley's Parliamentary colleagues Amery Browne and Colm Imbert refused to get involved in the campaign in July.
The Guardian report said the PNM is planning to introduce "facilitators" in the 29 constituencies where there are no PNM MPs. It quoted an unnamed party source as saying the PNM is facing a serious problem getting party groups together.
"Our support is vanishing overnight...We have to deal with poor support and tension in the ranks, so we are looking at mid January for our convention because of all the outstanding issues to be settled,” the source revealed to the paper.
So far manning has refused to leave and that raises questions about his motives. He has denied rumours that surfaced some time ago that there is a plan afoot to remove Rowley and reinstate him as leader. However, that issue remains alive because of Rowley's performance so far.
The Guardian said it understands that there is “stiff opposition” to Rowley from some senior members who served with Manning.
“One has to remember Rowley was thrown out of the Cabinet and was in the wilderness for a number of years. He has to earn back that trust and so far he has not done that," the paper quoted one source as saying.
"Rowley was out of the inner circle and suddenly he is the leader of the party; the person who is being trusted to take the party back in government. While at first for many he was the most ‘popular’ person to take over, many are thinking differently now and are afraid to say anything,” the source said.
“What we have noticed is several persons Manning rejected are the very same persons meeting with constituents...Many of them have a vendetta against Manning because of the treatment they received,” a party insider told the Guardian.
The paper said some supporters are wondering if the PNM is serious about wanting to return to office and are suggesting that Manning is so silent because he is planning to make a comeback and have the last laugh.
“People must not forget he is an experienced politician. He did not have to call a general election, but as we all know he went against the advice of many because of his arrogance.
“He knew the electorate was agitated and decided to throw in his hat wilfully. Quite frankly, he allowed the people to chose without saying anything. Without speaking he said you wanted a coalition government, you wanted Dr Rowley to lead the PNM take him," the Guardian reported, attributing the comment to a senior PNM insider.
The Guardian also stated that Rowley is unable to bring Indian support to the party. Again quoting an insider, the Guardian said the party is worried that too much support has shifted to the People's Partnership, which makes a return to office for the PNM a very difficult proposition.
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