AL RAWI SLIPS AGAIN

IN another political slighting, Faris Al Rawi has been bypassed to act as Attorney General during Reginald Armour’s absence from the country.

Political newbie Marvin Gonzales was appointed to serve as Attorney General.

Armour left the country last Wednesday on “official business” that was not disclosed.

Al Rawi’s bypassing is seen as another political downgrade for the former Attorney General.

He was summarily removed as AG two years ago.

In contrast, Gonzales is a rising PNM star despite his chequered record as Minister of Public Utilities.

Al Rawi is also facing the risk of not being named as the PNM’s general election candidate for San Fernando West, which he has represented for two terms.

There are growing reports in PNM circles that Kazim Hosein, Minister of Agriculture, would be the party’s flagbearer in the swing constituency.

Since word emerged that Al Rawi may be sidestepped as the candidate, he has become more visible in the constituency, PNM sources said.

He has visited several communities, including the working-class Marabella Trainline, which the PNM stunningly lost in last year’s local government election.

Before he increased his visibility, the San Fernando West Member of Parliament’s office was largely operated by Al Rawi’s mother, Diane Seukeran.

Ms. Seukeran represented the constituency from 2007 to 2010.

Al Rawi has also lately issued media statements and made site appearances on flood mitigation efforts of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, which he heads.

“He has slipped down the totem pole,” a PNM source said.

The source said that “it is too early” to say whether Al Rawi will be replaced as the election candidate, but stated that “there is no love lost” with PNM Chairman Stuart Young.

Young is unlikely to support Al Rawi’s general election candidacy.

The party source described Hosein as “a viable candidate.”

Al Rawi was one of the most vocal and high-profile advocates in the first term of the administration of Dr. Keith Rowley.

But he lost favour with Rowley over several public controversies and certain political associates.

Hosein, son of a former San Fernando Mayor, is well known in the southern city and is prominent in the Islamic community.

The naming of Gonzales to act as AG is a clear indicator that Al Rawi remains out of the PNM power loop.

Several incumbent PNM Members of Parliament are expected to be replaced by Rowley, who is seeking to remodel the party in his last general election.

There will be great interest in seeing whether Al Rawi makes the cut.