WHO IS THE CABINET SNITCH?

ALL is not as well in the Cabinet as Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley makes it appear.

The ruling party, which has an ingrained culture of collective responsibility and confidentiality, is now displaying subtle signs of disagreement.

Some government ministers are concerned about the Government losing sway among the masses.

Others are placing themselves in contention to be considered as successor to 75-year-old Rowley.

There is anxiety that the Government is not making a serious approach to crime-fighting.

And certain ministers are worried about the economic decline of the urban working poor.

Youth Development Minister Foster Cummings’ stunning decision to take legal action against the State is seen as an indicator of him seeking prominence ahead of the inevitable leadership change.

Cummings is the PNM’s general secretary, and enjoys loyalty of the party constituency executives.

But he is not Rowley’s favoured choice as successor.

Then, there is the leak of a sensitive Cabinet note that revealed taxation options to raising revenue.

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar flagged the confidential document on a political platform to rebuff previous claims by Rowley and Finance Minister Colm Imbert.

Apart from the revelations in the Cabinet note, there are burning questions of who is the snitch – and why was the document revealed?

Since such documents are classified, it is likely to have been exposed by a Government insider with an agenda to politically hurt Imbert.

The Finance Minister is not the most popular Cabinet member.

Rowley replaced him as PNM chairman a year and a half ago with Energy Minister Stuart Young.

There is speculation that Young is Rowley’s pick as the next party boss.

Imbert’s economic policy is considered as being partial toward big business.

The Government has attempted to play down the leak of the document, but it must raise fears about a betrayal in the ranks.

Is this a sign of things to come as the PNM prepares for the test of a general election?

Would this prompt policy changes by the Government, or lead to a redistribution of Cabinet responsibilities?

Would certain ministers be blanked as general election candidates and others promoted?

As Johnny Nash sang, there are more questions than answers.