AKASH SAMAROO
Lead Editor - Politics
Former Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley says Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles is trying her best as political leader of the People’s National Movement (PNM).
Speaking exclusively with Guardian Media at his Goodwood Park home, Rowley reflected on Beckles’ first year as PNM political leader, saying while they may have different approaches, every leader brings their own style to the party.
“She’s trying her best. We’re not the same. We are different people, different approaches,” Rowley said.
“The party will have different leaders. There was Williams, there was Chambers, there was Manning, there was Rowley. We’re not the same. We all put our best foot forward and hope that we can take the party one step closer to victory.”
Beckles marked one year as PNM political leader on June 29, 2026, after succeeding Rowley, who led the party for more than a decade.
But when asked to assess Beckles’ performance after her first year at the helm, Rowley said he was not prepared to grade her leadership.
“I’m committed to the PNM. The leadership that the PNM elects, whoever is leading the PNM is my leader and I have a duty to recognise that,” he said.
Rowley said if members are dissatisfied with the direction of the party at any point, it is for the membership to address.
“That’s how it is,” Rowley said. “But in the meantime, it is not for me to beat any drum over performance and mark any grade. People will try their best.”
The former prime minister said his approach has always been that people should be given the opportunity to prove themselves.
He compared it to the advice he gave his own children.
“I said to my children, I don’t know what you’re going to turn out to be. I hope you turn out to do well, but the one thing I’ll ask of you is always give it your best,” he said.
Rowley’s comments come amid public criticism of the current PNM executive, with former General Secretary Ashton Ford describing it as “authoritarian.”
However, Rowley said disagreement within the PNM is nothing new and does not mean members are any less committed to the party.
“There’s nothing to prevent a party member from expressing him or herself, and if someone is targeted in that expression, too bad for them,” Rowley said.
He said party members have always had the freedom to voice concerns.
“There’s nothing written or unwritten which says a party member has to keep his finger on the lips even if you have something to say,” he said.
Rowley said the strength of the PNM has always been the commitment of its members to the organisation, even when there are differences of opinion.
“So I could speak about the PNM and not be effusive in my praise of a particular action. That doesn’t mean I’m any less committed to the PNM,” he said.
The former PNM leader said he experienced similar criticism during his own tenure, including from people who questioned whether he could return the party to government.
“When I was leader of the PNM, there were people in the PNM who had a lot to say about me, to the point where they were saying that I would never lead the PNM to victory,” Rowley said.
“I didn’t let that distract me.”
He said some critics later changed their views, while others did not, adding that debate and disagreement have always existed throughout the party’s history.
“The PNM is a very live organisation with deep roots in this country,” Rowley said.
“The PNM is a very, very colourful organisation.”
