Don't rule out Clarence Rambharat vying to be the political leader of the PNM.
Rambharat's resignation as a senator and minister of agriculture last week during a Cabinet reshuffle does not seem to be the end of his political career.
"I still leave the possibility open of returning to the TT Parliament one day," he said during a wide-ranging interview on Thursday at the scenic Botanic Gardens in Port of Spain.
He said while his decision to quit was based solely on his inability to balance work and family life, it does not mean he is walking away from politics. His wife and three children live in Canada.
"Well, I am not exiting politics, I have left the Cabinet and I am not leaving politics. I am a member of the PNM. I don't have an office in the PNM.
"I don't know, when the internal election comes, if anybody will ask me to be on their slate, you would see I have never given that thought."
But, pressed on whether that could mean he could throw his hat in the ring to be the party leader, he said, "I have never crafted a campaign to be there, but I think once I am alive, I would think it is something I can do. I have not given thought to it, to run in the next leadership campaign, but I will always believe when you in something, you should see yourself rise all the way to the top, unless you think something is wrong with you."
As with his decision to contest electoral politics, Rambharat said he is more than willing to take risks in life.
"Your star might be shining today and it no longer there tomorrow, and you have make the leap...you really have to follow your passion, read the timing, like in cricket, watch the way the wicket is turning and make your decision."
The PNM's internal election is carded for September, and its political leader has already signalled his intention of contesting so that he can serve out his term as prime minister until 2025.
Rambharat, the only losing candidate to be given a Cabinet portfolio by Dr Rowley in two successive general election campaigns, says he remains committed to the party and is keen to play a role in developing future leaders, young people in the party, and those seeking to be full-time councillors when the local government reform is implemented.
[caption id="attachment_945568" align="alignnone" width="683"] Former senator Clarence Rambharat during an interview at the Botanic Gardens, Port of Spain, one day after he resigned as a government minister. - JEFF K MAYERS[/caption]
Rambharat became a member of the PNM in 1995, and began charting his childhood dream of one day serving in Parliament. His baptism in electoral politics came in 2013, when Rowley approached him to be the candidate for Mayaro, his hometown, but after a gruelling 14-month campaign he lost to the UNC's Rushton Paray in 2015.
"My run in 2015 was for Parliament, not for Cabinet."
But he already knew three weeks before the election that the Prime Minister wanted him to be the agriculture minister, after it was announced on a political platform. After the election, he said, th
