ROWLEY PLAYS MUSLIM, PRESBYTERIAN POLITICS

IN one fell swoop, Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley has made major overtures to the Muslim and Presbyterian communities. 

In nominating Christine Kangaloo to become President of Trinidad and Tobago, Rowley has given a significant nod to the Presbyterian faith. 

And with Senate Vice President Dr. Muhammad Yunus Ibrahim now expected to be named head of the Upper House, Muslims would have greater representation in the Rowley Administration. 

Kangaloo, the incoming Head of State, is from an entrenched Marabella-based Presbyterian family which worships at San Fernando’s Susamachar Church, the largest and most influential of the local faith’s congregations. 

Susamachar draws many worshippers from the swing San Fernando West electoral constituency. 

Although the Presbyterian Church has only about 50,000 local members, it operates 108 churches, 72 primary and five secondary schools, and one theological college. 

A relatively large number of professionals and business people are among the flock, and they have prestige and sway, as employers and key operatives in various organisations. 

Ibrahim, a dental surgeon, has his well-known medical practice in San Juan, in the heart of the marginal San Juan-Barataria constituency. 

The constituency is currently represented by the UNC’s Saddam Hosein. 

A large number of Islamic worshippers live in the constituency. 

Several of Ibrahim’s relatives live in the community. 

He is a former President of the Supermarkets Association and has served in Islamic organisations. 

His late uncle Dr. Wahid Ali was President of the Senate from 1971 to 1986 and a prominent member of the PNM. 

After being appointed Senate Vice President, Ibrahim told the media that “it is really a wonderful process to be part of.” 

As President of the Senate, Ibrahim would act as Head of State in the absence from the country of Kangaloo. 

The elevation of Kangaloo and Ibrahim would continue the PNM’s long-held tradition of electorally courting Presbyterians and Muslims. 

Through the years, several prominent worshippers of both faiths have held important positions in the party and in PNM governments. 

Kamaluddin Mohammed and Errol Mahabir, who served for several years under the administrations of PNM founder Dr. Eric Williams, were the most notable. 

Mohammed was a prominent Muslim devotee who held much clout among fellow believers along East-West Corridor, and especially in the all-important San Juan-Barataria districts. 

San Fernando-based Mahabir, a former mayor of the second city, had significant authority and standing with the Presbyterian community, including business people and industrialists. 

Mohammed and Mahabir were each deputy leaders of the PNM and close advisors to Williams. 

Kangaloo’s elevation could have the effect of bolstering vital Presbyterian support in San Fernando West, where there are a significant number of members of the faith. 

There is already speculation that Ibrahim could be the PNM’s 2025 general election candidate for San Juan-Barataria. 

In 2020, Hosein won 8,300 votes to 7,240 by PNM’s Jason Williams. 

Some political observers say that Rowley’s decision to nominate Kangaloo to the highest office in the land is a calculated move to earn electoral dividends. 

There is also speculation that Dr. Maryam Abdool-Richards, Principal Medical Officer, would be on the shortlist of PNM candidates to contest the St. Joseph seat.