Contrary to opinions expressed both in and out of the PNM about Dr Keith Rowley's election as leader of the PNM, I trust the following unquestionable facts would be helpful to all concerned: Rowley is the most qualified and experienced leader to ever be elected in the party's 54-year history. r Eric Williams, its first political leader, came into politics based on his academic qualifications and his "rhetoric brilliance" with no previous political experience-a complete newcomer to the political arena.
George Chambers, its second political leader, assumed office in 1981. He had never lost an election; he was never in opposition or the Senate. Prior to his selection as political leader, although a former assistant general secretary and deputy political leader of the party and cabinet minister, he never attracted national attention. He rose to the occasion and became one of our better Prime Ministers.
Patrick Manning, its third political leader, came in 1987 at odds of 10,000 to 1. The circumstances of his rise to the highest office in the party and subsequently to that of Prime Minister are well documented.
He did not contest his first election in 1971; he won by default. Prior to 1986, he had no opposition experience; he was never in the Senate; he never held national office in the party prior to becoming political leader.
He also, like Chambers, never attracted national attention prior to becoming political leader. Manning however rose to the occasion to serve both the party and the nation well until he lost control of himself, the party's and the people's agenda and generously disposed of his government and the party's political assets ... which he did twice.
Rowley, its fourth elected political leader, academically qualified, lost his first election in Tobago and served as an opposition senator in 1986-1991. He was a government elected minister in 1991-1995, 2002-2007, 2007-2008. During the period 2008-2010, he became a vocal backbencher. He is an excellent debater and national platform speaker. He was deputy political leader for seven years. What other moulding experiences and attributes do you require to lead the party? It is now left to Rowley to rise to the occasion and convince the party and the national community that he can and will respond to our expectations.
Ferdie Ferreira
Diego Martin