00:00Dr. Bazdeu, who is a political scientist, says given that there's a holiday on Friday,
00:07he expects government to have its first working parliamentary sitting next week.
00:12He notes that the mid-year budget review and the repeal of the Trinidad and Tobago Revenue Authority
00:18will be high on the agenda.
00:21He further notes that the energy sector will also be at the forefront.
00:25Also on the agenda that was stated on last Thursday was a visit by the Minister of Energy to Washington, D.C.
00:36to meet U.S. officials.
00:38So that meeting is important because it sets the stage as to what may happen in the energy sector.
00:47And as rumors and questions continue to swirl with respect to what position will be given
00:53to political leader of the COP, Prakash Ramadaw.
00:56The political analyst had this to say.
00:59Minister Ramadaw came in into what we call the coalition, formed part of the coalition of interests,
01:06possibly much later than the other members of the coalition of interests,
01:12for example, like Mr. Alexander, Philip Alexander,
01:16the trade union, the members of the trade union movement,
01:19and the poor trade unions themselves.
01:22So it's a question of how do you satisfy all of these demands?
01:27Dr. Basdew says, while it is a large government,
01:31it is quite evident that the hierarchical structure is in place.
01:35He says the public's focus will now be on delivery.
01:39Dr. Basdew also shares his perspective on what's happening with the opposition.
01:43The PNM still has a number of issues to resolve,
01:48and that will carry it into the possibility until next year.
01:53And the reason I'm saying this is that next month becomes the first hurdle
01:57when the party holds internal elections,
02:00to elect a political leader and a new executive.
02:03That's the first stage.
02:05We don't know if Ms. Beckles will be the sole candidate
02:09for the position of political leader.
02:11Will there be any challenges to the position of political leader?
02:15He also notes that Mrs. Penelope Beckles-Robinson
02:18has adopted the policy of former party leader
02:22and former prime minister, Dr. Keith Rowley,
02:25in reappointing defeated candidates to the Senate.
02:28He says the PNM is going back into the past,
02:31while at the same time heading into the future.
02:35Nicole M. Romany, TV6 News.
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