NYAN – FASTEST-RISING PNM WOMAN

A DECADE ago, Dr. Nyan Gadbsy-Dolly was a school teacher. 

Today, Dr. Gadbsy-Dolly is theoretically a hair’s breadth away from a chance to lead People’s National Movement (PNM), one of the oldest political organisations in the Caribbean. 

This makes her the fastest-rising woman in the PNM in that party’s 67 years. 

She has climbed faster and higher than such historic figures as Isabel Teshiera, Muriel Donawa-McDavidson, Marilyn Gordon, Norma-Lewis Phillips, Karen Nunez-Tesheira, Pennelope Beckles and others. 

Her rise in the PNM has been more meteoric than Camille Robinson-Regis, for whom, like many other party women, the glass ceiling has been the nominal post of lady vice chairman. 

Marlene McDonald became a deputy leader but after 15 years of involvement in the party and a long period of community service. 

Donna Cox, Paula Gopee-Scoon, Allyson West, Shama Cudjoe, Ayanna Wester-Roy and other current ministers have not moved up in leadership roles.  

Hazel Manning was foisted as a government minister by her husband Patrick Manning but did not hold a PNM post. 

The position of deputy leader is awarded by the leader, in his case Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley. 

Dr. Gadbsy-Dolly, who is educated in organic chemistry, was one of the brand-new politicos to face the electorate in 2015, winning the St. Anns East seat and later serving as Minister of Community Development. 

She was previously a secondary and tertiary teacher for 11 years. 

She was promoted in 2020 to the all-important Education Ministry, and managed the portfolio during the difficult Covid-19 lockdown. 

Educational standards have fallen in recent years, and while Dr. Gadbsy-Dolly leadership may not be the cause, there have been no remedial measures under her watch. 

Professor Ramesh Deosaran last September voiced a popular view in stating that the education system “remains imprisoned by a number of structural and socio-economic restraints.” 

In 2021, more than 9,000 students scored less than 50 per cent in the SEA examination. 

Deosaran criticised “the apparent inability of the ministry to effectively activate policies to alleviate, if not eliminate” problems in the system. 

Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association called a two-day class boycott last September. 

The union said that 78 per cent of teachers supported the call on the first day. 

The Government went to court to block the second day’s boycott. 

Dr. Gadbsy-Dolly’s dazzling rise has prompted questions of the value she brings to the leadership of the ruling party, and whether she could be in the running to succeed Rowley. 

At 73, Rowley may be slowly engaging in succession planning, and the election of Stuart Young as party chairman could be an indicator. 

There would be a lot of focus in and out of the PNM on the leadership credentials of Dr. Gadbsy-Dolly.