PORT OF SPAIN-born, United States-based academic Dr. Wayne Frederick is billed to be a People’s National Movement (PNM) candidate in the forthcoming general election.
Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley is strongly in favour of fielding Frederick as a candidate.
Frederick, a former President of Howard University in Washington DC in the United States, has stepped up his presence in Trinidad and Tobago, and attended the recent opening of a public library in Diego Martin.
Under Frederick’s leadership, the university gave Rowley an honorary doctorate in May 2023.
A few months earlier, Frederick was awarded the Order of Trinidad and Tobago, the country’s highest honour.
The dual tributes aroused conjecture in political and academic communities about back-slapping between both prominent figures.
Critics charged that the university honoured mediocrity, in light of rampant social and economic problems in Trinidad and Tobago.
Frederick said at the time that he did not influence the decision to grant the award to Rowley.
In conferring the doctorate to the Prime Minister, Frederick hailed him as a “renowned social and political leader, pioneering statesman and scholar.”
He stated that Rowley provided “exemplary” leadership during the Covid-19 medical crisis.
At the commissioning of the library, Frederick announced a personal gift of $1 million to assist in public education.
The 52-year-old academic served as President of Howard University from July 2014 to August 2023.
In 2018, he was paid US $1.1 million, the highest salary of a university president in Washington.
In that year, a majority of faculty members voted “no confidence” in Frederick’s leadership.
During his tenure, there were issues relating to management of the university’s finances, as well as accommodation and heating, with boisterous calls for his resignation.
There were reports that in 2018 almost US $1 million in aid to Howard was stolen by university officials.
Students protested on campus in 2017 and 2018, with some alleging that Frederick did not care about Black people.
One piece of graffiti accused him of being a “plantation overseer.”
Howard is a historically Black research institution.
No public reason was given for his resignation.
Frederick, a surgical oncologist, currently serves as a professor of surgery.
He previously spoke of plans to set up an Eric Williams Endowed Chair in Caribbean Studies at the university.
His likely electoral candidacy is fueling speculation that he will replace Terrence Deyalsingh as Minister of Health if the PNM is returned to national office.
Deyalsingh, a pharmacist, has been at the butt of much criticism over his management of the critical portfolio.
His recent comments on the health implications of fast food raised eyebrows because the franchise holders of the major business chain have close ties to Rowley.
Deyalsingh’s remarks and increased consumer prices have led to a sharp fall in sales, which is likely to affect the bottom line of Prestige Holdings, the franchise operators.
Christian Mouttet, Chairman of Prestige, has served on Rowley-appointed Government committees.
Rowley is reportedly moving to present an electoral slate of several new candidates for the election, which is due by August 2025.
Frederick has two teenage children.
Some of his elderly relatives live in T&T.
