Even as Foreign Affairs Minister Senator Dr Amery Browne rubbished rumours of being in line to replace the Prime Minister as MP for Diego Martin West, residents in the constituency say they feel they have been left behind by Dr Rowley.
Browne took to social media to dispel the rumours on Sunday.
“I wish to categorically state that I have not been approached by the constituency of Diego Martin West with respect to nomination as an electoral candidate, and I have had no such conversations or intentions or ‘blessings’,” Browne said in a post on his Facebook page.
“Anything published to suggest otherwise is at best speculation or at worst the result of pure and deliberate mischief.”
Browne confirmed his statement on social media with Newsday on Sunday over the phone. He had no further comment at the time.
A newspaper report said Dr Keith Rowley would not be screened by the People’s National Movement (PNM) in the 2025 general election. The article suggested that, based on information from “informed sources,” Browne would re-enter electoral politics and throw his hat in the ring for the Diego Martin West constituency.
Calls to Rowley’s phone and messages via WhatsApp on Sunday went unanswered.
Rowley, 75, first ran for political office in 1981, contesting the Tobago West seat. Rowley has represented the Diego Martin constituency for 33 years, having been elected in 1991 and re-elected in 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2007, 2010, 2015 and 2020.
Browne, a medical doctor, was first elected as MP for Diego Martin Central in 2007. He was also appointed minister of social development that year. Brown contested and won the seat again in 2010. He served as MP there until 2015.
After serving as ambassador to Brazil in 2020, Browne was appointed senator and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
'Rowley has left us behind'
When Newsday visited Diego Martin West on Sunday, residents complained of infrastructural issues, a lack of jobs for youths and a lack of attention from Rowley.
“He don’t come down here so again,” said one resident of La Horquette Valley Road, in Glencoe, Carenage, where Rowley’s constituency office is located.
“Rowley is always busy, busy, busy, but see about your constituency.
“That is the most important thing. That is why people vote for you.”
[caption id="attachment_1125494" align="alignnone" width="945"] The Prime Minister has not addressed reports that he will not put up for re-election in his Diego Martin West constituency. - FILE PHOTO[/caption]
Another resident said Rowley used to be more interactive with the constituency. He suggested a change from Rowley may be a good thing.
“I grew up here, I know Rowley since I was a little boy.
“Rowley is a man who didn’t really do much for the community.
“He used to be a part of the community in the early days when he was housing minister. But all of those things stop. I don’t find he’s present in the community any more.
“I believe he got what he wanted from us. So the area doesn’t have any use for him again.”
He said a representative f
