Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) political leader Watson Duke has warned the Prime Minister about making the same "mistakes" he did by endorsing the wrong person.
Duke was speaking in a video posted to his social media page on January 6, moments after the Prime Minister announced that the PNM caucus had chosen Port-of-Spain North/St Ann's West MP Stuart Young as his replacement.
On January 3 Dr Rowley announced that he will be retiring from electoral politics after 45 years. Rowley later added that he would be resigning prior to the end of his term of office.
The government held a retreat at a private villa, Plantations, Lowlands, Tobago, on January 5 and 6 where a vote was taken to decide who will take the prime ministerial reins.
According to reports, PNM MPs voted 11-9 in favour of Young over Arima MP Pennelope Beckles-Robinson.
Rowley reportedly abstained.
Speaking to the media on January 6, Rowley gave a glowing endorsement of Young, the Minister of Energy.
He said Young has "distinguished himself" in the last ten years working on a number of detailed and technical assignments.
"I have no doubt that Minister Young's experience, dedication and commitment to the people of TT, will ensure that the period he has the responsibility for being Prime Minister, he will continue to put the people of TT's interest first," Rowley said.
But Duke, a former Public Services Association (PSA) leader, believes Young is not the right person for the job. He told Rowley that endorsing the wrong individual has consequences.
He said, "I am speaking to the PM and those who are listening. I, Watson Solomon Duke, put God out of my thoughts and think I could trust mankind and I trusted the current leader of the PSA (Leroy Baptiste) with office in 2021 December. I was betrayed.
"(I) have to now turn around and fight for my survival. I can't speak to them, they not listening."
In June 2024 Duke sued the PSA over payment of a pension.
"You cannot appoint someone to power and then try to direct them. Once someone seizes power based on your recommendation, that's it. You now will have to obey and follow that power."
He also cited his endorsement of former PDP deputy leader Farley Augustine for Chief Secretary in the 2021 THA elections. Duke and Augustine had a public spat in 2022 over alleged lack of funding for the Roxborough Folk Performers' trip to New York. Duke later resigned as Deputy Chief Secretary and Augustine stepped down from his PDP post.
Augustine and the rest of the THA executive council later formed their own political party, the Tobago People's Party. After winning the December 2021 THA elections 14-1, Duke is now the sole PDP representative in the assembly.
Duke said, "Today, Mr Rowley, when you speak to Stuart Young, your wish, your counsel, your advice is likened to a command. Tomorrow when Stuart Young becomes PM, your wish, your advcie, your counsel comes like nothing. It's one out of a thousand advice (he is getting).
"I did the same thing in the THA where I said, 'Farley, y