ENERGY Minister Stuart Young is expected to be sworn in as prime minister at President's House, St Ann's on March 17, the day after Dr Rowley resigns as PM.
While the PNM is expected to present its candidates at Woodford Square on March 16, it is not clear whether Rowley will use this forum to announce the date for this year's general election or leave that responsibility to Young after he succeeds him.
Rowley is due to return home from California, where he and his wife Sharon are on vacation, on March 9. These were the comments from senior government and PNM officials, speaking under strict condition of anonymity, on March 7.
Government officials said Rowley will demit office from midnight on March 16 and Young will be sworn in the next day.
But they could not say whether it will be Rowley or Young who will announce the election date.
While Rowley has said he will resign as PM and not stand for re-election as Diego Martin West MP, he remains PNM political leader. A government official said this situation is unprecedented in many ways.
March 16 will be the first time the PNM presents its slate of election candidates before the announcement of the election date.
Traditionally, the approval of candidates by the PNM's central executive and the subsequent public presentation happens after the election date is known.
The official said this is also the first time the party and country has an outgoing prime minister before an election is called.
Another official said it would not surprise anyone if there is some kind of legal challenge raised after March 16 regarding the interpretation of Sections 76 (1) (a) and (b) of the Constitution. Section 76 deals with the appointment of a prime minister.
The former subsection concerns who is the MP in the House of Representatives who commands the support of the majority of MPs in the House.
The latter subsection deals with the political party which holds the majority of seats in the House having an undisputed leader.
A third government official said because Rowley is still PNM political leader, some people may use Section 76 (1) (b) to claim he and not Young should be the one to call the election.
This official added a perusal of the Election and Boundaries Commission's (EBC) records will show Rowley is still officially recognised as the PNM's leader.
A fourth government official said Section 76 (1) (a) could be used to argue that since Young commands the majority support of government MPs, he is the prime minister and can call an election.
Rowley announced his decision to retire from electoral politics on January 6.
At a subsequent parliamentary retreat in Tobago, he said Young was selected to succeed him as prime minister.
After a PNM general council meeting in Port of Spain on January 11, party general secretary Foster Cummings said 20 PNM MPs had pledged support to Young as prime minister.
On the same day, it was announced the party would hold its convention on September 28 to decide who will succeed Rowley as political leader. He has held
