PRIME Minister Dr. Keith Rowley and other top brass PNMites want Colm Imbert to retire from electoral politics.
A snide comment from Rowley last week – “the important thing is to know when you have to go” – was directed at Imbert, informed PNMites have confirmed.
Imbert is the only PNM representative elected in 1991 seeking the electorate’s nod at this year’s general election.
The party’s leadership hopes attorney Raydon Dalrymple-Watts would partner Hans de Vignes as new candidates for Diego Martin seats.
Imbert’s decision to turn up for screening last week embarrassed Rowley and other top PNM officials, the well-placed sources said.
In recent weeks, party bosses have leaked broad suggestions in the daily media that Imbert, 67, should retire.
After Imbert was defeated in major legal issues, a newspaper indicated his candidacy could be in jeopardy.
The PNM national executive strategically left screenings for the three Diego Martin seats for last.
Insiders said Imbert was given time to reconsider his candidacy.
Dalrymple-Watts, 37, has the support of incoming Prime Minister Stuart Young to contest Diego Martin North-East, sources said.
DeVignes is replacing Rowley as the candidate for Diego Martin West.
It is not known if Imbert would be confronted about his candidacy.
If so, the task is expected to be left to Young, who has recently been in sharp conflict with Imbert.
Senior party operatives feel the Diego Martin North-East incumbent would be a drag on the PNM during the election campaign.
They cite the economic crisis that has prevailed under his watch as Finance Minister and the high-profile litigations in which he and the government were defeated.
There have been growing tensions between Young, a relative political newcomer, and Imbert, the second most seasoned PNM Member of Parliament.
The discord started after Young replaced Imbert as PNM Chairman and Acting Prime Minister.
Young is unhappy that several government ministers are not receiving the required funds from the Finance Ministry to complete key projects ahead of the election.
Imbert recently fired back that a cash flow problem stemmed from a shortfall in energy production, which was seen as a dig at Young, who is Minister of Energy.
Knowledgeable sources said Young is looking for new political blood to shape his electoral team.
Rowley has repeatedly said the party is in transition.
A taxpayer-paid political hack is supporting Imbert on social media with stinging allegations against unnamed PNM and Government officials.
There is speculation that if Imbert manages to make it to the PNM’s slate and the party is re-elected to office, he would almost surely not be appointed Minister of Finance.
Imbert, a civil engineer, has faced ongoing queries from experts about his financial know-how and economic policies.
The PNM is aiming to name its selected candidates and begin national campaigning within the next few weeks, according to the sources.
There is keen interest in whether Imbert will surmount the considerable odds and again be selected as a PNM candidate.
