PEOPLE’S National Movement political leader Dr Keith Rowley said yesterday he plans to relinquish the leadership of the party “during this year”.

“Because I want to give it up. I want the transition in the party to be smooth and the transition of the country to be smooth. (Yesterday’s) processes would guarantee that the transition in the country is smooth, so that is accomplished. The next step is to do it in the party. And then the country is better off moving forward without me. And those two processes, I think it was my responsibility and my intention to do them smoothly and in the best public interest and I think we are on the way to doing that,” he said.

Rowley was speaking outside the International School of Port of Spain after he had cast his vote, where he said the process was very smooth.