Confirmation that Energy Minister Stuart Young has been endorsed by all 21 Government Members of the House of Representatives to be next Prime Minister, when Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley resigns.
It comes following a PNM General Council Meeting at Balisier House today, where a Press Conference was held subsequently.
Chairman of the party Stuart Young and General Secretary Foster Cummings spoke about what transpired.
00:00Good evening, all. I want to thank you for your patience and for being here this evening to cover this meeting of the General Council of the PNM.
00:09Let me just reiterate that this was a regular meeting of the General Council.
00:15General Council meets monthly in most cases, and today we followed the regular agenda of General Council meeting at the PNM, of course, a very experienced party, very disciplined party.
00:34The meeting was conducted by Minister Young, the chairman. The meeting was quite orderly and persons participated and raised the issues that they would have had during general business.
00:48At the conclusion of the meeting, I should indicate that there was no motion before the floor put by any member dealing with any matter whatsoever, but persons did raise many concerns or different issues that would be a normal thing at a General Council meeting.
01:07At the end of the day, we continue to be a strong and united party ready to continue to represent the people of Trinidad and Tobago.
01:17I would also indicate that as of the time of this press conference, all 21 members of the House of Representatives of the PNM have signed on to agree and approve Minister Stuart Young to take over the office of Prime Minister upon the retirement of Prime Minister Rowley.
01:45Thank you very much, Minister Cummings, General Secretary of the PNM. My message this evening is a very, very simple message. My message is, first of all, I'd like to thank the Honorable Prime Minister and the political leader of the PNM, Dr. Rowley, for continuing his leadership of this great party.
02:04Importantly, my message is one of unity and unification. I have been in very good dialogue, in particular with my colleagues, Minister Cummings and many of my other colleagues. And what you're seeing here this evening at Balize House is what you would expect to see from the People's National Movement.
02:28What you're seeing here this evening at Balize House is historic. This evening at Balize House, the General Secretary and myself, as Chairman, are pleased to tell Trinidad and Tobago what you are going to be seeing is the rollout of Team PNM.
02:48You're going to be seeing Team PNM going to the population as a unified, unified party, a strengthened party, a party that has a lot to offer the population. And I look forward to working with my colleagues in a manner that will present to this population something that maybe you would be unprepared for in the most positive of manners.
03:17We're going to be seeing unity and we're going to be seeing historical things happening that will only uplift Trinidad and Tobago. And I'd like to use this opportunity now at this time to personally thank Minister Cummings, the General Secretary, for working as closely as he did with me over the last few days to ensure that we are presenting to the Team PNM to the population.
03:43I want to thank all 21, well 20 of my colleagues, unfortunately not 21, because of course of the passing of our colleague and dear friend Lisa Morris Jr. So I thank you all very much and look forward to how we continue to unfold this chapter in Trinidad and Tobago's history. Thank you.
04:06I just want to join with my colleague Minister Young in reinforcing the point that the PNM is united and strong. Every member of Parliament is united behind Minister Young in this new responsibility that he is to take on. Our party executive and party members are excited about the prospects of the future and we look forward to continuing to bring good governance to Trinidad and Tobago. Any questions?
04:37One at a time.
04:3821 signatures. All 21 signatures of all 21 PNM MPs.
04:45Including the Prime Minister, right?
04:47Yes.
04:48And when will you take over as Prime Minister?
04:50When the Prime Minister retires.
04:52So let me just sign over after 7 days.
04:56It is not a letter, it was a signature of confirmation of what happened in Tobago and the agreement between all of us to stand as a united front as we move forward upon the resignation of the PM.
05:09So there is no date right now, you don't know?
05:11I just said there is no date.
05:12How did you convince the other 9 to get on board?
05:17It was the other 9, right?
05:18Huh?
05:19So you have to convince 9?
05:20I don't think it really was a matter of convincing as I indicated and Minister Cummings can continue the conversation.
05:27We had certain discussions and we always knew, I believe, that we would end up at this point and it really was not a matter of convincing.
05:36This is exactly where I expected us as a people's national movement to end up.
05:41I leave it to Minister Cummings.
05:42But let Minister Cummings, let Minister Cummings.
05:47Well, it's a matter of consensus building.
05:49At the end of the day, we are all members of the PNM.
05:52We all have the best interests of the party at heart and we are just very happy that we have reached to this point today where we can move forward as I indicated earlier.
06:03Yes?
06:04I was asking whether it was settled on Thursday, the meeting that was held on Thursday.
06:09All of the matters that would have been ventilated prior to were settled, yes, since Thursday, yes.
06:18In terms of the party's political leadership, did that come up today?
06:22At the General Council, you mean?
06:24Well, party members raised concerns at the General Council.
06:27The General Council, of course, is a free council where people raise all matters.
06:33As I said, there was no motion before the floor, but members raised several issues, including the question of leadership.
06:40Everything was adequately addressed.
06:42What were the concerns raised about?
06:43Well, we'd have to invite you to the meeting.
06:45What is said in General Council stays in General Council.
06:48That is something that we are very, very out for.
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