Several well known frontline PNM faces will form part of Dr Keith Rowley’s Cabinet which will be sworn in at 10 am today.

The ceremony will take place at Queen’s Hall where Rowley was sworn in as Prime Minister on Wednesday after Monday’s 23-18 general election victory in favour of the PNM. The People’s Partnership’s 18 seats will form the Opposition.

A number of candidates who were elected in Monday’s general poll have been invited to today’s ceremony. Yesterday, however, many of them, indicated they didn’t know which portfolio they were getting. Also invited to today’s function, are several non-elected PNMites who will be appointed as senator ministers.

Rowley had said during the campaign he would have a smaller Cabinet—about 18 to 20 members maximum—with streamlining of several currently existing ministries.

He also said few elected MPs would be in the Cabinet—approximately 11—and the Cabinet may have about eight appointed members. Those who are not in Cabinet are expected to see to constituencies full time, according to statements made on the PNM campaign trail.

PNM officials said those expected to attend today’s swearing-in included Arima MP Anthony Garcia; Diego Martin North East MP Colm Imbert; Diego Martin Central MP Darryl Smith; Port-of-Spain North MP Stuart Young; La Horquetta/Talparo MP Maxie Cuffie; Tobago West MP Shamfa Cudjoe; Port-of-Spain South MP Marlene McDonald; Arouca/ Maloney MP Camille Robinson-Regis; St Joseph MP Terrence Deyalsingh; Laventille West MP Fitzgerald Hinds; D’Abadie/O’Meara MP Ancil Antoine and Toco MP Glenda Jennings-Smith

Already sworn in on Wednesday were Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi and National Security Minister Edmund Dillon.

Although PNM Mayaro candidate Clarence Rambharat was defeated, sources have tipped him for the Agriculture Ministry since during the campaign Rowley had said Rambharat would be placed if the PNM formed the Government.

Rowley at an Arima PNM meeting had also said Garcia would be Education Minister. 

PNM officials have noted that Imbert has served in Works, Health and Science and Tertiary Education during his past experience in government. Apart from these portfolios, he is also tipped for Energy.

PNM circles are also buzzing with speculation on who would be appointed as ambassadors, particularly to London, Canada and the US. Former Point Fortin MP Paula Gopee-Scoon is tipped for an ambassadorial post, sources said.

PNM sources are tipping retired banker Richard Young, father of Stuart Young, for a position. His name is being referred to in connection with Finance but a former captain of industry’s name is also being heard in connection with this.

Whether there would be two Finance Ministers, since Rowley said Local Government responsibilities would be shifted to Finance, was uncertain yesterday.

Speculation was rife at Wednesday’s swearing-in function that one of the guests present, national cricketing icon Brian Lara, might be tipped for Sport Minister. That could not be confirmed yesterday.

PNM production chief Andrew Gabriel at Wednesday’s function said he was not seeking any post or senatorship since he had to return to his business from which he had been away during the campaign.

Rowley had said during the campaign, a PNM Government would utilise links with the T&T/Caribbean diaspora overseas to market T&T’s good and services and harness talent in that forum. 

There is also speculation about the 3,200-plus state board positions that have to be filled in coming weeks.

Meanwhile, Parliament officials said preparations were well underway for a ceremonial opening of the 11th Parliament. This is unlikely to be before September 18 since a number of sessions for freshman MPs have been scheduled up to then, it was confirmed.

Rowley has said the Parliament would convene in two weeks. In that forum, elected members will take the oath of office as an MP. 

Parliamentary experts said elected members who were sworn in as ministers today could function immediately in ministries since the oath of office as an MP—to be administered on the first session of Parliament—pertained to a different forum. 

They noted that in the past two administrations elected members were sworn in as ministers first and functioned in ministries for several weeks before being sworn in as MPs in Parliament.

PNM officials yesterday also tipped former attorney general Brigid Annisette-George for the post of House Speaker among two other names in the running. President’s House officials also confirmed that consideration of Independent senators—nine to be appointed—is also in the works.

MORE INFO

Yesterday PNM general secretary Ashton Ford said party chairman Franklin Khan would outline the process by which a new public relations officer would be appointed to replace Faris Al-Rawi who is now Attorney General. 

Al-Rawi said at his swearing-in ceremony on Wednesday  he would step down as party PRO. Khan didn’t answer calls on the issue. The PNM leadership also has to appoint a replacement for former Diego Martin regional corporation chairman Darryl Smith, who won the Diego Martin Central seat on Monday. He resigned on the day election results were given and informed the party leadership and corporation, it was confirmed. 

The corporation has continued meetings up to yesterday without him and corporation vice-chairman Katty Christopher has acted in the interim, corporation officials said.

Despite the claim that the People's Partnership received the popular vote, statistics from Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) state it was the winning party the People's National Movement which received that prize.

During her concession speech on election night former prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said the People's Partnership, which comprises the United National Congress (UNC), Congress of the People (COP), Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) and the National Joint Action Committee (NJAC), won the popular vote.

But according to the EBC yesterday of the 1,099,279 eligible voters, 734,792 voted which represented 66.84 per cent of the eligible voters.

Of those who voted 2,452 ballots had to be rejected. The PNM got a total of 378,447 votes to take 51.68 per cent of the voters. The runner-up, the UNC, got 290,066 votes or 39.61 per cent. The People's Partnership received a total of 46.65 per cent of the votes.

Independent Liberal Party (ILP) won 5,123 votes while the COP won 6.01 per cent or 43,991 votes. 

PNM candidate for Arouca/Maloney Camile Robinson-Regis won the most votes overall with 14,843 out of 18,200 valid votes cast. 

The highest number of eligible voters came from the constituency of Moruga/Tableland with 21,132 valid votes. That seat was won by PNM's Dr Lovell Francis.

Of the leaders of the two major political parties, UNC and PNM, Persad-Bissessar won 14,896 votes of the 19,651 valid votes while Dr Keith Rowley won 12,855 of the 16,907 valid votes.

Condemnations of former prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s plan to file an election writ to have the results of last Monday’s general election declared null and void have started coming in.

Joseph Remy, president of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions and Non-Governmental Organisations (Fitun) was one of the first to do so, describing the coming election writ as obscene and flying in the face of logic.

In a media statement yesterday, Remy said Persad-Bissessar’s intention to file the election writ was unpatriotic and Fitun “would like to publicly condemn the latest attempt by the defeated former prime minister and her UNC cabal to challenge the decision of the Election and Boundaries Commission (EBC) to extend the hours of voting to facilitate electors who were severely hampered by the heavy rainfall on Monday.”

The statement added: “We are also alarmed by her nonsensical call for the results of the election to be declared null and void.

“Fitun believes this challenge is another attack by the now disgraced UNC, on another of the country’s independent institutions, this time it is the EBC. 

“This has been one of the negative hallmarks of the former government during their last five years in office. 

“This current challenge is ludicrous and is symptomatic of the current dysfunctional and disheveled state of the UNC as a political entity.”

Remy said Fitun believed the decision of the EBC was well founded in law and done in circumstances where thousands of citizens were on the verge of being denied their right to vote, consistent with the provisions of the Constitution. 

“In addition, the circumstances that hampered them were an act of nature and as such, this noble and dignified approach by the EBC must be commended, instead of being attacked,” he added.

He said even the Caricom Observer Group noted “the brave and bold step taken by the EBC.”

Remy said Fitun calls on Persad-Bissessar “to withdraw immediately this frivolous and vexatious challenge to the EBC’s decision and focus on the reasons that gave rise to the demise of her government.”

He said the former PM’s call for the annulment of the election results flies in the face of logic “and clearly demonstrates she and her UNC cohorts were so consumed with the abuse of state resources that they are still shell-shocked and in a state of despair since they can no longer feed off the state’s trough.”

Remy added: “Fitun demands that the former prime minister accepts the will of the people, withdraw her obscene challenge and allow the country to exhale and move on from the last five years of bad governance”.

Steve Alvarez, leader of the Democratic Party of T&T, echoed Remy’s condemnation.

He said: “We are a mature nation with intelligent people and we the people have spoken.

“It can be considered insulting to the people to challenge the decision of the population on the basis put forward by the UNC.” 

Alvarez said if one were to be guided by the points made by the UNC the population would have to believe only PNM supporters were aware of the extension of voting hours.  

“One would also have to believe that over 1,000 PNM supporters voted during that hour, as the results show the PNM leading in the marginal seats by over 1,000 votes.   

“Additionally, one would have to assume the UNC had tangible evidence, perhaps through clairvoyance capability, that they were in fact leading in the polls at 6 pm before the counting of ballots started.

“Such nonsensical assumptions may resonate well with the core UNC supporters but is irresponsible and divisive,” Alvarez said.

Persad-Bissessar told UNC supporters at a Couva meeting on Wednesday night the election writ had been drafted already and called on anyone who encountered irregularities in voting to come forward.

She said they already had a list of witnesses and needed as many affidavits as they could get to build their case.

On his first official day, newly-appointed Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi was busy meeting with head of the Central Authority Netram Kowlessar and acting permanent secretary Joycelyn Hunte.

Al-Rawi, who already had several stacks of files on his desk, spoke to the T&T Guardian about his first day on the job. Saying he was already getting into the business that was at hand Al-Rawi said he had and would continue to have a packed agenda at the ministry, adding that one of the key issues was the extradition matter of corruption-accused Jack Warner.

Saying the matter was expected to be heard in court next Wednesday, Al-Rawi, however, could not say when he was expected to sign the warrant.

“I must act from a position of fact. During the course of today (yesterday) I will ascertain the status of that particular matter and then to deal with what is on the agenda. I have to meet with all persons on that matter. “I must act within the propriety of the Constitution and as an attorney I am obliged to make sure I am properly and fully informed. As it is I am operating in a vacuum and I must first fill that vacuum,”Al-Rawi said.

Pressed when he was expected to sign the warrant, the AG said he would not yet give a particular time frame, adding to do so would be speculating. There have been reports that attorneys seeking the interest of the Central Authority had already billed the State more than $12 million in the extradition matter.

Asked if the AG’s office would be seeking to retrieve the monies Al-Rawi said he still needed to have all the facts. “What has been put in the public domain... I am not quite sure. So I still need to have all the particulars and then look at it from an informed perspective,” Al-Rawi said.

On the outstanding prisongate matter, he said the office of the Attorney General must be segregated from those matters which involved the police.

“Anything that is in the hands of the police is obviously not in my domain and so it would be improper of me to intrude in that. My obligation is to act within the constitutional perimeters,” Al-Rawi said.

On the operations of the Solicitors General’s office and in particular the office of the Attorney General Al-Rawi said one of the concerns has been the efficiency of that office.

“One of the general concerns, publically and over the last five years, has been the operationality and efficiency of office of the Attorney General as it relates to the out sourcing of matters. “It is an immediate and urgent priority for me and certainly for my Government that we get into improving the efficiency of this ministry... inside out,” Al-Rawi added. Saying his first order of business was getting to meet the people and the structure of his organisation Al-Rawi said the budget was another key factor.

Regarding his first day as AG Al-Rawi described it as “hit the ground running saying: “There is no rest in this kind of job. I am very fortunate that I have had five years of prior experience... seeing what an Attorney General does or does not do at least from an outside perspective... so I am no stranger to this particular aspect. “I am looking forward to leaving a mark of responsibility and efficiency and certainly hoping to leave this ministry in a better condition that it is now... of course there always being room for improvement. 

Al-Rawi, who resigned from the post of public relations officer of the PNM, said he was unaware of who would replace him adding that it was up to the party to decide.

Accept your defeat with grace and move on. That was the advice given to Kamla Persad-Bissessar from the leader of the Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) David Abdulah after Monday’s election.

Abdulah also advised Persad-Bissessar to attempt to calm her supporters in the face of her general election defeat.

In a release yesterday, he said the former prime minister needed to try to calm her supporters and  pave the way for the entire country to engage in the very challenging task of tackling the major problems which the country faced, such as an economic crisis, crime and the collapse of our institutions.

Abdulah reminded Persad-Bissessar and her executive colleagues in the UNC of their repeated phrase when they were in government for five years: “It’s time to move on.” 

He added: “That phrase was first popularised by them in the aftermath of the so-called “mis-step” of the appointment of Reshmi Ramnarine to the position of director of the SSA, a position that she was not qualified to hold. 

“In the face of widespread criticism concerning that appointment and the fact that the Parliament was misled by government ministers with respect to her qualifications, Mrs Persad-Bissessar, Dr Moonilal and other high-ranking UNC members told the Opposition, other critics and the country to “move on”. 

“To Mrs Persad-Bissessar we say time to move on. Accept your defeat with some grace, for the country’s sake. He said there were already a few UNC supporters who had not accepted the outcome of the democratic process and had been posting wild rants on social media, some of which were seeking to incite racial strife.  

“Their position would have been informed by the vituperative campaign conducted by the UNC in its attempt to denigrate and demonise Dr Rowley. 

“This was not helped by the fact that Mrs Persad-Bissessar did not offer congratulations to Dr Rowley on election night,”Abdulah said. He said Persad-Bissessar had a responsibility over and above others in her party to ensure that T&T continued to engage in the process of peaceful democratic change. 

He added: “The UNC’s decision to seek legal recourse to annul the election will be like pouring fuel on a smoldering fire. “The divisiveness, rancour and even hate that can burst into flames will consume T&T, not the PNM or Dr Rowley’s Government. 

“As difficult as it must have been for previous prime ministers who lost elections, they never sought to frustrate the will of the people or challenge the entire electoral process. They gracefully accepted the result and indeed moved on.”

The commission of enquiry investigating the circumstances that led to the construction of the Las Alturas Towers at Lady Young Road, Morvant, is expected to continue as usual.

The fifth session is expected to begin on September 28 and will end on October 9. The proceedings, which will be chaired by retired Justice Mustapha Ibrahim, will resume at 9.30 am at the Caribbean Court of Justice, Henry Street, Port-of-Spain.

Commission officials yesterday said they did not intend to abandon the enquiry following the change in government. It was recommended by the former prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar after concerns were raised about the cost which skyrocketed from $65 million to $90 million.

Key commission officials said they were appointed by President Anthony Carmona on December 2, 2014 and unless instructed otherwise, they would continue to carry out their duties as outlined in the procedural rules.

During a brief interview at Cabildo Chambers, St Vincent Street, Port-of-Spain, yesterday, newly-installed Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi was cautious in his response when questioned about the future of the commission.

Promising he “would have to get the facts on that,” Al-Rawi later met with the ministry’s staff and heads of departments and special units, as part of his first day at the office. Pressed to elaborate, Al-Rawi added: “I would also have to deal with the fact that there may be a perceived conflict of interest, in so far as the last prime minister specifically made certain statements, which of course I don’t agree with, but I must act with propriety in relation to the conduct of that matter.

“I would not want to run afoul of any aspect of a perception of a conflict of interest.”

When contacted about the amount of money that had so far been spent on the enquiry, officials directed that query to the Office of the Prime Minister which they cited as being responsible for payment to the commissioners and attorneys.

At A Glance

The commission of enquiry was set up to investigate “the entire process which led to the construction of the Las Alturas Towers at Lady Young Gardens, Morvant, and all other acts, matters or decisions done or undertaken incidental to and including the construction” of the project, which includes the procurement process.

Two multi-storey units of the Las Alturas housing project began falling apart soon after construction and the $26 million towers were earmarked for demolition. 

They were part of a larger project, which was originally budgeted at $65 million and then rose to $90 million. 

The commission is chaired by former Justice of Appeal Mustapha Ibrahim. 

The other members include civil engineers, Dr Myron Wing-Sang Chin and Anthony Farrell. 

Attorney Laraine Lutchmedial is the secretary. 

They were appointed by President Anthony Carmona in December 2014.

In September 2014, former prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar recommended an enquiry into the project after raising concerns about the two towers which had to be demolished. 

At the time, Persad-Bissessar said newly-installed Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, who was a former housing minister under the PNM, as well as Emily Gaynor Dick-Forde, who succeeded him, have distanced themselves from blame. 

Rowley said though he welcomed the probe it would be another waste of taxpayers’ dollars.

LEGAL MINDS: The commission’s attorneys include Senior Counsel Pamela Elder and Jagdeo Singh, instructed by Alvin Pariagsingh.

Queen’s Counsel Vincent Nelson and Larry Lalla are appearing for the Housing Development Corporation.

Richard Mason, Jehan Mohammed, Faydia Mohammed and Brendon Sullivan are appearing for the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago. Vinda Maharaj and Kirt Walrond are appearing on behalf of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.

Justin Phelps and Jerome Herrera, instructed by Anabelle Sooklal, are appearing for Geotech Associates Limited (GA).

Emerson John-Charles is appearing on behalf of Civil Engineering Management and Services (CEMAS) and Steve Kistow Engineering Services.

Thunder for the People’s National Movement (PNM) Government. 

This is what the yet to be sworn in United National Congress (UNC) MPs and Opposition Leader-elect Kamla Persad-Bissessar is promising three days after the PNM won the general elections, 23-18.

“When we return we will give them thunder as they create bacchanal after bacchanal,” UNC deputy political leader, Dr Suruj Rambachan, vowed as he addressed party loyalists in Couva South office on Wednesday night.

He said the blunder in appointing Edmund Dillon as National Security Minister, and Faris Al-Rawi as Attorney General, before Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley was the first bacchanal.

Persad-Bissessar, in a fighting mood, also addressed a lively crowd of UNC supporters, winning and losing candidates and her former ministers at the party’s Couva South constituency hall.

“We have a very strong bench,” she said, referring to the 18 seats won by the UNC. 

“We will monitor everything they do and keep them on their toes. We will not sleep, falter or stumble. 

“I am giving you the commitment I will never, ever give up,” Persad-Bissessar said to cheers and repeated shouts of “I love you Kamla Persad-Bissessar” from supporters.

UNC deputy political leader Dr Roodal Moonilal also threatened war.

He said when the “18 warriors” go to Parliament they will fight on behalf of the majority who elected them.

Moonilal said the PNM Government was a minority one since they did not represent the majority of citizens.

He told party supporters not to throw away their jerseys and asked them to continue to write letters and do whatever they could to highlight any misdeeds of the new Government.

Persad-Bissessar urged supporters not to despair over the party’s loss in the general election. 

“Do not despair, lose faith or heart. We’ve been here before. We’ve been down before but we always rise again.”

She spoke about the task ahead for the UNC. 

“What is the task ahead now?” she asked.

Before she could continue, a supporter shouted: “Beat them bad!”

Continuing, the Opposition Leader-elect said: “Regroup, rebuild, reposition, rebrand and return to government.” 

Another supporter added: “And attack!”

One of the PNM’s campaign slogans was Restore, Rebuild, Represent. 

  To the strains of The Impossible Dream, the tenure of Keith Christopher Rowley was launched on Wednesday bringing the young boy from Mason Hall, Tobago to his political goal, becoming T&T’s seventh Prime Minister.

Rowley, 65, took the oath of office at 1.42 pm at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s, Port-of-Spain, swearing on the Bible to uphold office and making an appeal to the public: “...we have a lot to be thankful and greatful for, spend a bit more time enjoying it and looking at the positives of life and less time complaining...”

He called for people to remember who “put us on this path” and what they expected of the People’s National Movement (PNM) Government.

Rowley said he was embarking on the current exercise as a responsibility for all the people and he saw his job as getting others to work and ensuring everybody else worked. Trees outside of Queen’s Hall were decorated with bands of red, the PNM’s party colour. But attendees—mainly PNM executive and senior campaign planning officials, some candidates and corporation chairmen and other members of the PNM community—wore neutral colours denoting the new PNM administration’s governance for all. Only a couple women wore red and some gentlemen wore red ties.

Guests included former Senate president Michael Williams, political analyst Selwyn Ryan, PNM stalwart Ferdie Ferreira, national cricketing hero, Brian Lara, Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union president general Ancel Roget, Movement for Social Justice leader David Abdulah and several employees of the Office of the Prime Minister under the past Persad-Bissessar administration including press secretary Francis Joseph and events co-ordinator Lisa Ghany.

Rowley and his wife Sharon—the latter in an ivory lace sheath—sat front row with President Anthony Carmona, his wife Reema and successful PNM candidates Faris Al-Rawi and Edmund Dillon and their spouses. 

Prior to taking the oath of office as Al-Rawi sat waiting, he held hands with his wife Mona. His three children, sitting in the audience, also witnessed proceedings.

Former Independent senator Rev Daniel Teelucksingh who opened proceedings, prayed that Rowley would be an instrument of peace.

After the oath of office was administered to Dillon, Al-Rawi and Rowley, a Bishop Anstey Girls’ High School soloist Kelsey Nancoo rendered “The Impossible Dream,” to which several members of the audience briefly nodded their heads, seeming to agree with the lyrics as a portrayal of Rowley’s life and his path to his ultimate goal.

Rowley himself bore a sober expression as the song was rendered. A similar mood pervaded when the choir sang Celine Dion’s The Power of the Dream. Rowley, however, tapped one foot energetically to the beat when the choir broke out David Rudder’s Trini to De Bone.

Rowley in a brief address said he’d often been asked the question why he got into politics because many saw politicians as self serving. He said it was because of the responsibility to the youths of T&T. He recounted that when he taught at St Augustine he  often looked at the students and wondered who would look after for them in future. He said he eventually ended up in politics since that those who had made it had a responsibility to those who were coming up.

He thanked his wife for her support as well as those from his boyhood village of Mason Hall, his Diego Martin home base as well as the Seventh Day Adventists whom he said made sure he didn’t go “astray.” 

San Fernando police are investigating the murder of an unidentified man who they suspect was chopped and left for dead after stealing avocados.

The Police Command Centre received a report around 2 am yesterday that the body of a man was seen lying on Southern Main Road, La Romaine, near Pond Street.

When officers checked they saw an Indo-Trinidadian man bleeding on the roadside with chop wounds about the body and he appeared to dead. A bag of avocados found near the body was taken as evidence and police are working on  the theory that he may have raided someone tree and may have been attacked.

The District Medical Officer examined the body and ordered it’s removal to the Forensic Science Centre where an autopsy will be done once it is identified. His description was given as dark-coloured, slim man. He wore a black T-shirt and a pair of blue 3/4 pants.

Anyone with information on the crime or his identity is asked to contact San Fernando police at 652-2858 or 652-1771.

The best person suited for the Finance Ministry at this challenging time is new Finance Minister Colm Imbert, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has declared.

Imbert was among the 20 members of the new Rowley Cabinet who took the oath of office at Queen’s Hall, Port-of- Spain, yesterday. (See full Cabinet listing on Page A5)

Following the swearing in of his Cabinet, Rowley explained the appointment of Imbert, for whom the portfolio will be a new experience following previous posts in Health, Works, and Science and Tertiary Education. 

Rowley said, “The Ministry of Finance is the most challenging area right now and will remain so for quite some time. What I’ve done is put the most experienced minister who has a very high capacity for detailed work, he’s very technically sound and Mr Imbert is the best person...best suited for that position.” 

To those who may say Imbert lacks economic training, Rowley told reporters after the ceremony, “It’s economics that got us where we are now. It is those who call themselves economists in the political areas that got us where we are now, so maybe somebody else might get us out of it.” 

Addressing the new team and guests during the function, Rowley said, “As Prime Minister I intend to hold every one of the members to the oath of office which demands that you act without fear or favour, affection or ill-will. 

“It is my style of management to give responsibility and hold people accountable. Ministers will be held accountable but the buck stops with the Prime Minister—I take responsibility for this Cabinet.”

Rowley also said there was enough to sustain everyone in T&T, just “maybe not lavishly.” He, however, urged a change in attitude from asking for “more please.” 

He added, “We will try to share with everyone what is on the table.”

The 21-member team—including Rowley—features six people who served in People’s National Movement (PNM) governments before, as well as 14 “newbies.” It includes eight women and five senator ministers. 

The first member of the Cabinet to be sworn in yesterday was Clarence Rambharat, the PNM’s Mayaro candidate who lost to the People’s Partnership’s Rushton Paray in Monday’s general election. During the election campaign Rowley had promised Rambharath would be in Agriculture if the PNM formed the Government. Rambharath was one of five senator ministers named.

In addition to the cabinet team, Rowley appointed defeated Caroni Central candidate Avinash Singh as a Parliamentary Secretary in the Agriculture, Lands and Fisheries Ministry.

Tobago East MP Ayanna Webster-Roy was also appointed a Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, but was a late addition to the slate.

Saying mistakes were sometimes made, Rowley said he took full responsibility for forgetting to bring one document for the swearing-in of Webster-Roy. He joked, however, that she was Tobagonian like himself and would be able to take it. She was later administered the oath of office at President’s House.

Marlene flubs

Housing Minister Marlene Mc Donald caused some amused gasps when she flubbed her lines while taking the oath of office yesterday, saying she swore to work “...without fear or favour, affection or... goodwill.” 

The line of the oath actually reads, “without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.”

When she realised the mistake, Mc Donald re-read the line saying “...without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.”

Ministries absorbed in new dispensation

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley yesterday told reporters he had put in place a Cabinet the size of which he felt was required to run T&T and a number of ministries had been absorbed.

He said the Water Resources aspect of that previous ministry was in the Public Utilities Ministry, Environment is now in Planning, Justice and Legal Affairs in the Attorney General’s Ministry and the Arts portfolio was in Culture

He also noted that Tobago Development was in the Office of the PM and the Lands division had been returned to the Agriculture Ministry.

“So there’s some compression. But the public service is still intact—what we’ve removed are the ministers and bureaucracy,” he said.

On the new ministers, Rowley told the gathering he hoped the public had observed a changing of the guard, in that there was a time when holding office meant one had to be senior in age with long, meritorious service, “(but) you’d see a lot of youths, we’ve put affairs in the hands of a lot of young people.”

Along with them, he added, were other people who had the experience to provide guidance.

“But we all have to serve all of the people of T&T,” Rowley added.

But he assured, “Today I want to say to T&T, don’t worry, everything’s going to be all right.” 

Rowley also called for T&T to become the model country the Mighty Sparrow sang about and urged people against expecting a pay cheque for every deed.

“I appeal to the national community to return to the service of volunteerism to volunteer for T&T...to do something without accepting a financial reward. Not everything has a pay cheque. Let us get rid of the ‘gimme, gimme’ attitude. Let’s be confident what we have done in the dark can be defended in the light,” he said.

The new Cabinet meets in retreat today at the Hyatt Regency, Port-of-Spain, and will hold its first cabinet meeting on Monday.

“We of the Cabinet will go on with boundless faith in our destiny,” he told the gathering.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has noted that former prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar agreed to go ahead with legislation regarding the appointment of a police commissioner when she was in office and he hopes responsible conduct will prevail when the People’s National Movement Government attempts to amend the law on this.

“We’re not going to the Parliament to fight the Opposition. This Government isn’t going to engage in any fruitless fight with the Opposition. If the Opposition indicates they won’t support a particular legislation, we’ll attempt to persuade them and hopefully people will be guided by the oath of office...we’ll move to getting done what we can get done,” Rowley told reporters after yesterday’s swearing-in ceremony of the new Cabinet at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s.

He said Parliament would open before Republic Day on September 24, likely on September 21. 

The Rowley administration will present proposed legislation including procedures to devolve authority to Local Government, an amendment of the law to appoint a CoP, whistleblower legislation, an amendment to the procurement law which Government wants to introduce and proclamation of that law.

Rowley also said he would not interfere with the Las Alturas Commission of Enquiry, which the past People’s Partnership administration initiated. He said the Government would await the findings but “those are sideshows that will entertain us.”

He also shrugged off the PP’s intention to take legal action seeking to have Monday’s election result declared null and void.

“Those are part of the UNC’s internal politics, where people are trying to explain themselves,” he said.

Rowley also described as nonsensical the UNC’s claim that his administration was a “minority” government.

“These are things for them to console themselves with—the election is over.”

He said it was also either nonsensical or worrisome that the UNC had said they were ahead of the PNM at 6 pm on polling day.

“How would anybody know you’re ahead at 6 pm? The vote is secret...you could think so, but the vote is secret, so those aren’t serious things,” he said.

Rowley noted yesterday the 9/11 anniversary and the 14 T&T nationals who died in the destruction of the World Trade Towers in 2001.

He also shared some insight into his youth when he opened his address by relating how he’d stood on the stage of Queen’s Hall as a Bishop High School student participating in a competition and been dumbstruck. He said he froze. His principal, Mr Blackett, the only one there to support him, was shocked since he (Rowley) always had the “biggest mouth” in school. He said Blackett had told him afterwards not to worry and that he was “going to make it.” He said that experience lived with him until he entered politics in 1970 and “I haven’t stopped speaking since...”

New Finance Minister Colm Imbert says Budget Day is expected to be September 28.

Imbert said this in his first interview after he was sworn in as minister at a ceremony presided over by President Anthony Carmona at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s, yesterday. 

Imbert and the other remaining ministers of the new PNM Cabinet were sworn in yesterday. Among those in the audience were Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi, National Security Minister Brigadier Edmund Dillon—who were sworn in on Wednesday—and Chief Justice Ivor Archie.

Imbert also said that the ceremonial opening of the First Session of the Eleventh Parliament was expected to take place one week earlier, on September 21.

Imbert was unable to say what 

oil price the 2016 budget would be based on.

“I’ll have to check that. I have to be advised,” he told reporters.

Asked if it would be another deficit budget, Imbert said, “I will have to be advised. You see there would be a skeleton budget that would have been prepared because we are into the budget month. The financial year ends at the end of September.”

He said there was “a piece of legislation called Expenditure Without Appropriation Act and that allows you to spend money up to the end of October, so you have until the end of October to complete the budget.”

He said he intended to “talk to the public servants and see what the skeleton budget looks like and then work out when budget day will be and how long the budget will take.”

Asked if there would be a reduction in expenditure, Imbert said, “Well I can’t say anything until I see the state of play. It would be unwise of me to say anything (at this time). I have to go in and check the books and see what’s going on.”

Imbert told reporters that his first priority would be to “find out what is the state of the economy, what is the state of the debt, what is our fiscal balance (and) how much money there is in the Exchequer Account.” 

He added, “I can also tell you that I am tentatively setting September 28 for Budget Day, but that all depends on what I discover when I look at the skeleton budget. We may have to adjust that date but that is the tentative date right now, which would mean that the Parliament will convene maybe a week before that for the ceremonial opening.”

He said he spoke to the Parliament and it has until October 30 to complete the entire budget debate process.

Imbert said in the circumstances, the Government was “allowed to spend ten per cent of [its] total appropriation for the preceding fiscal year in that month of October. So we are allowed to spend about $6 billion in the month of October. That is provided for in an Act of Parliament—expenditure in lieu of appropriation.”

He said he had no idea if the budget would be smaller than last year’s.

“Remember this budget would have been prepared by the outgoing administration. I intend to talk to Mr Howai and get some views from him on what factors he took into account when he was preparing the budget.”

He said he was surprised by the portfolio given to him by Prime Minister Rowley.

Imbert served in previous cabinets as Works and Transport, Science and Technology, and Health ministers.

He said the country could expect the Government to keep manifesto pledges to establish a Revenue Authority.

Asked if the amnesty on the Property Tax would be discontinued, Imbert said, “I wouldn’t want to speak about that right now. I would say now that whatever is in our manifesto with respect to finance, there is quite an extensive section on finance, we have the Revenue Authority, we also have a general accounting office to do day-to-day monitoring of expenditure and we are also going to create a statistical institute to replace the CSO, so you could get real-time data. It is all there in the manifesto.”

He added, “We have a plan mapped out already.”

On the billion dollar fuel subsidy, Imbert said he “wouldn’t want to talk about that at this point in time.”

On the Clico shareholders agreement, Imbert said he intended to be updated on the matter and would meet with Central Bank Governor Jwala Rambarran next week to discuss it.

Asked to comment on the possible changing of government members on the CL board, Imbert said he did not want to comment on that matter as to do so would be premature.

Very old style and deja vu.

This was the response from former planning minister Dr Bhoe Tewarie to the set of ministers sworn in yesterday in the new PNM Government.

“The whole structure of the Government seems very old style and deja vu,” Tewarie said shortly after the swearing-in, in response to questions from the T&T Guardian.

“Some of the ministers are also those who have served before and have had issues raised about them.

“But, all in all, the Prime Minister (Dr Keith Rowley) has chosen his ministers and I think we should give them a fair opportunity to perform.

“I wish them well because they are the Government and it’s important that T&T succeeds. I will wait to see what they do.”

Of the 22 ministers sworn in, eight served in former PNM administrations, including Marlene Mc Donald (Housing Minister), Camille Robinson-Regis (Minister of Planning and Sustainable Development), Colm Imbert (Finance Minister), Paula Gopee-Scoon (Trade and Industry Minister) and Franklyn Khan (Works Minister).

The rest are virtual newcomers to politics with no parliamentary experience.

Tewarie said the appointment of Mc Donald, a PNM deputy political leader, was expected. 

Gopee-Scoon, with her experience as a former foreign affairs minister, was reasonable and Robinson-Regis for Planning Minister was expected, he said.

Imbert’s appointment was the only one that took him by surprise.

“I was a little surprised by the Finance Minister.”

Asked why he was surprised, he replied: “I’d rather not say.”

As for the rest, Tewarie said he just did not know most of them or their abilities.

“Rowley probably knows more about each minister appointed than people on the outside, like myself, know.”

He said he just did not know Nicole Olivierre, the new Energy Minister. Her candidate profile said she was employed with the National Gas Company.

Tewarie said he was not familiar with Dennis Moses, Minister of Caricom and Foreign Affairs. “I am not familiar with this minister. I have no idea of his abilities or competence.”

Moonilal

“A motley crew without Mottley.” This was the usual sarcastic response to the new PNM Government ministers from former housing minister Dr Roodal Moonilal.

Moonilal, in making reference to Mottley, was referring to Wendell Mottley who served as a PNM government minister between 1991 and 1995. 

It was a sarcastic reference to the number of former PNM ministers who were reappointed in the new government.

“A most curious assortment of ministers,” Moonilal observed.

He singled out the appointments of Imbert and Gopee-Scoon for the Finance and Trade Ministries.

“Clearly, several citizens turned down appointments for finance and trade.”

Moonilal expressed faith in Mc Donald. “Mrs Mc Donald is an expected appointment. She wilI do well and, hopefully, continue our good work in the sector.

“Her location in Port-of-Spain should lead her to fast forward the Port-of-Spain East Development Project which we advanced.

“I wish her the very best.”

Karim, Nicholas

The Ministry of Tertiary Education and Skills Training has received the axe under the new Rowley-led PNM Government. There is just a Ministry of Education. 

The last government constructed a new building for the ministry on the Narsaloo Ramaya Road in Chaguanas, which they planned to make an education city.

The spanking new building was launched late in August but is yet to be opened.

“It shows where their emphasis is,” former tertiary education minister Fazal Karim said.

Karim, however, said he preferred to wait until he saw what responsibilities and functions were gazetted under the education ministry before he commented further on the new ministry. He said because education was a super ministry, covering early childhood, primary, secondary and tertiary, the former government had separated the normal school system from studies done beyond and outside of it.

He said he felt very good about the projects done under his ministry because his focus was on empowering young and mature people with education and skills.

“One would hope the projects would continue,” he said.

Former attorney general Garvin Nicholas was guarded and proper in his response to the new PNM ministers sworn in yesterday.

“I wouldn’t want to prejudice anybody. I wish them all the best. I think a minister’s role is to do what is best for all citizens. That is certainly what I tried to do. Once they do well as ministers, the country does well.”

Nicholas said he was waiting to see the PNM act on what they promised and, as the Opposition, their role was to pull them up and be the guardians of democracy.

Congress of the People (COP) alderman in the San Fernando City Corporation Kevin Ratiram has distanced himself from the leadership of Prakash Ramadhar.

Ratiram said he has always stood up for what is right regardless of the consequences and if he remains silent, he would have failed himself and the party he helped to build. 

“The COP has materially departed from its founding principles and unless and until there is a re-adherence to the founding principles I am formally distancing myself from the leadership of the party,” Ratiram said yesterday.

His desire to disassociate with the party in its present configuration, comes at a time when there are mounting calls for Ramadhar to step aside after last Monday’s election defeat.

Although he has taken this position, Ratiram said in accordance with the founding principles of the COP, he will complete his duties as chairman of the party’s Constitution Reform Committee, his duties as alderman and shall continue to attend meetings of the national executive.

In a statement, Ratiram, a founding member of the COP, said he has stayed true to the party even after the exodus of members following several events over the past eight years and even when others have proclaimed that the COP is dead.

“The COP was the party which stood for the values I believed in—integrity, decency, and honesty. For me, it was never about how strong or weak we were. 

“It was about what we stood for and since I felt we stood for the right thing, there was never any issue of me departing.

“However, during the past few months, I have witnessed a marked departure by the COP leadership (not merely the leader) from the principles and values upon which this party was founded. I have seen these values thrown to the wolves, for political gain and survival.”

He cited three examples to support his claim, including Ramadhar’s endorsement of the former prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar exoneration of Anil Roberts re the Room 201 video, Ramadhar’s embrace of endorsements by high-ranking government officials who wear the COP shirt, but who in fact bear no allegiance to the COP and what he saw as “the blatant acceptance of a campaign amongst persons who once were, but are no longer, members of the COP in the true sense, to vote in, and sway, the elections.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s decision to cut 11 ministries which existed under the People’s Partnership government is finding favour among the citizenry.

Among those expressing support for the move were president of the Zoological Society Gupte Lutchmedial, past president of the T&T Contractors Association Christopher Garcia and attorney and past president of the American Chamber of Industry and Commerce Hugh Howard.

In an interview, Lutchmedial said he was happy that Land and Marine Resources were reverting back to under the umbrella of the Agriculture Ministry, headed by Minister Clarence Rambharat.

“This is what existed pre-1998. Forestry was under agriculture. Now that Land has merged with Agriculture there won’t be all this conflict about responsibility. There will be easier coordination over whose responsibility each of these departments fall because everything will be under one ministry,” Lutchmedial said.

Asked how he felt about the ministry of the Water Resources no longer existing, Lutchmedial said it made sense for the Water and Sewerage Authority to fall under Public Utilities.

However, he said that there should be a specialised Ministry of the Environment. Saying he has faith in Rambharat, Lutchmedial said he hoped that food security would be a top priority for the new Government.

Meanwhile, past president of T&T Contractors Association Christopher Garcia said he was in favour of the appointments. 

“I think they are very well placed and I hope that they will perform diligently, fairly and impartially. I think it will improve efficiency because a smaller Cabinet means less people to interact with which makes for more efficient decisions and monitoring,” Garcia said.

He added that despite predictions of “doom and gloom” citizens must be prudent in decision making. He added that the Government must invest in our people. 

“That is the only way we can grow and export our construction industry up and down the islands. We have done it in energy so why can’t we do the same thing for construction? Our Government must set the tone and the example and motivate people,” Garcia said.

Corporate attorney and past president of the American Chamber of Industry and Commerce Hugh Howard also said the merging of the Legal Affairs Ministry with the Office of the Attorney General was a step in the right direction.

“I don’t think that it will in any way reduce or compromise the efficiency of the work that falls under Legal Affairs. They are all legal work and the AG and ministry should embrace and have responsibility for everything that deals with...good governance,” Howard said.

He said he could not say whether the splitting of the ministry before had created greater efficiency.

“At the end of the day, once a ministry is appropriately structured and you ensure that you have the public servants with the capability to discharge the duty based on policies decided by the Government, that will lead to better deliverables,” Howard said.

He said the line minister must understand that his function was one of policy.

“When it comes to the delivering of services he must ensure that the public servants who report to him are properly qualified, motivated and given the opportunity to discharge their duty in accordance with the relevant legislation without favour so you don’t have a disgruntled population who may claim discrimination,” Howard added.

He said Rowley had started off his tenure on a good footing.

“He is signalling that he understands that he is supposed to be Prime Minister of T&T and not of PNM supporters and he is willing to work with the Opposition...in the best interest of the country,” Howard added. He said listening to Rowley gave one confidence that he was a statesman who was fit to hold the Office of Prime Minister.

PP Ministries chopped

• Ministry of the People

• Ministry of Food Production

• Ministry of Justice

• Ministry of Tertiary Education and Skills Training

• Ministry of Legal Affairs

• National of Diversity and Social Integration

• Ministry of Arts and Multiculturalism

• Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources

• Ministry of Science and Technology

• Gender Youth and Child Development

• Ministry of Tobago Development.

Rowley’s new Cabinet

• Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries

• Ministry of Communications

• Ministry of Community Development, Culture and the Arts

• Ministry of Education

• Ministry of Energy and Energy Affairs

• Ministry of Finance 

• Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs

• Ministry of Health

• Ministry of Housing and Urban Development

• Ministry of Labour and Small and Micro Enterprise Development

• Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government

• Ministry of National Security

• Ministry of Social Development and Family Services

• Ministry of Planning and Sustainable Development

• Ministry of Public Administration

• Ministry of Public Utilities

• Ministry of Sport

• Ministry of the Attorney General

• Ministry of Tourism

• Ministry of Trade and Industry

• Ministry of Works and Transport

Vice president of the Police Social and Welfare Association Insp Roger Alexander is advocating that the new People’s National Movement (PNM) Government and National Security Minister Major Edmund Dillon confirm acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams as CoP. 

Williams has been acting in his position since August 7, 2012, when he succeeded then Canadian commissioner Dwayne Gibbs.

“It is important to confirm Mr Williams’ appointment as commissioner because you eliminate the thought of people saying that the police is politically aligned. We want to keep police independent at all times,” Alexander said.

He also called on Dillon to provide Williams with the necessary tools to adequately fight crime and allow him to manage the resources.

Pledging to assist the new Government in the crime fight, Alexander also called for a commitment from Dillon to ensure that the new Government did not pressure the police or try to influence their investigations.

“Do not get involved and put unnecessary pressure on the police while they conduct investigations because when you do that, it seem you are interfering,” Alexander said in a telephone interview on Wednesday. 

He said the fight against crime was not a lost cause and also urged better patrols along T&T’s porous maritime borders.

The proper monitoring of immigrants, the establishment of a DNA database, as well as legislation to extract samples from people entering and exiting the country, he said, would also assist in the fight against crime. 

“We need to have a proper database with immigrants because right now we have no information on these foreigners. We need to pass laws so that we can extract DNA from every citizen and from every person entering and exiting T&T. This will assist us in fighting crime,” Alexander said.

He added that all citizens must be able to provide identification if they were outside their homes.

Alexander said proper discipline must be instilled in students between the ages of 14 and 19.

“We can use institutions like the Girl Guides, the Scouts and the Red Cross to instill these values,” Alexander said. (RS)

In breaking news this week on CNC3’s Crime Watch, host Ian Alleyne highlighted the devastating news that the home of a June murder victim was destroyed by fire recently, leaving the victim’s mother and sister homeless.

Alleyne visited the scene and showed footage of the burnt ruins which once stood as the home of murder victim Krishna Singh, 25, of Bourg Mulatresse, San Juan. 

The house was destroyed by the blaze on Tuesday. 

Fire officials believe it was an arson attack.

Speaking with Alleyne at the scene, Singh’s mother, Puniya Phillips, said that since her son’s brutal murder she had been receiving threats and had made several reports to the police. 

Alleyne said he had been looking closely at the case but needed an intervention from the relevant authorities to assist him in making further progress in his investigations into the case.

Singh and Shawn Branche, 35, were both gunned down by masked gunmen on June 17 shortly after 1 pm.

The men were at Branche’s Dularie Trace, Bourg Mulatresse, San Juan, home when gunmen stormed in.

Residents heard the gunshots and went to the house where they found the two men bleeding from bullet wounds. They were taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope, where they died while receiving treatment.

In another case, 57-year-old Ivan Medina of Guayaguayare is pleading with Alleyne to help him get worker injury compensation from his workplace. 

Medina said while at his workplace a piece of iron fell on his left foot, fracturing it. He said he had worked at the company for the past seven years. 

UNSOLVED MYSTERY

​Also this week, Alleyne showed exclusive footage of a man who was stabbed several times about his body while liming at Independence Square, Port-of-Spain, on Tuesday. The incident occurred at about 8 pm.

During the live show on Wednesday, as he was showing the video of the wounded man being taken away by the ambulance, Alleyne received vital information which might lead to the arrest of the perpetrator. 

The victim, who subsequently died, was identified as Lamont Beckles, 42, of King Street, Diego Martin.

Alleyne has now launched an investigation into the incident and is in search of Beckles’ killer.

It is believed that Beckles knew his attacker and was said to be with a female friend when the incident occurred.

According to reports received by Alleyne, Beckles was near a fast-food restaurant between Chacon and Abercromby Streets when he was approached by a man. A quarrel ensued between the two and quickly escalated. The suspect pulled a knife and dealt Beckles several stabs to the neck. Witnesses said Beckles ran a short distance away but collapsed outside Scotiabank and lost consciousness. 

At that point Beckles’ attacker again ran up to him and dealt him more stabs in full view of the public. Beckles’ attacker then fled the scene.

Alleyne has asked for assistance from members of the public who may have any information about the identity of the attacker. He may be contacted at 294-4081.

Alleyne is also looking for information surrounding the whereabouts of 72-year-old Sonnylal Mohan Ramsaroop, who went missing on August 25, 2015. Ramsaroop was last seen at his home at 15 Phillip Trace, Rochard Road, Penal.

New Education Minister Anthony Garcia says there will be reform of the primary school curriculum.

Speaking with reporters after being sworn in by President Anthony Carmona at Queen’s Hall yesterday, Garcia said: “Some reform must take place with the primary school curriculum.”

Noting that Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley hah spoken about the need to introduce History into the primary school curriculum, Garcia said he “will try to ensure that we put together as quickly as possible experts in the field so that can be included in the curriculum as soon as possible.”

And, Garcia said, he wanted to “assure the denominational boards that their interest in education will be maintained. I want to let them know that I respect the right that they own the schools and I will do everything that is in my power to ensure that they continue to play the role that they have been playing in education for a number of years.”

Garcia said the Continuous Assessment Component, which was introduced by the former PP government, would be reviewed. “I will want to look at the Continuous Assessment Component. That has caused a lot of concerns and worry among many of our teachers and I would like to ensure that our teachers are comfortable in whatever they do and that is something I need to look at as a matter of urgency.”

Garcia said he also hoped to address delays in the opening of the school term and prevent further problems. “That has to be one of my major concerns. I would not like under my tenure to have delayed opening of schools,” he stressed.

Garcia said he would have discussions with the Education Facilities Company Ltd to ensure that things were put in place to address the matter. 

“Everything will depend on discussions and I will be discussing with the principals in those areas to ensure that things are done properly,” he added.

Garcia said he expected to meet with the T&T Unified Teachers Association as soon as possible to seek to advance the delivery of education.

New Works and Transport Minister Fitzgerald Hinds said his priorities were “to identify problems and, once resources are available, to resolve them in the quickest possible time to bring economic development and to bring relief and to improve the quality of life of the people of T&T.”

He said the country had not had value for money over the past few years. He said he was not surprised by the portfolio given because it was always the responsibility of the Prime Minister to appoint ministers.

Social Development and Family Services Minister Cherrie-Ann Crichlow-Cockburn said her priority was to get into the ministry and do a current state assessment before making decisions on moving forward.

She said she worked in the social insurance field for over 25 years “so I understand social insurance and social services. I bring my 25 years experience.”

Labour and Small and Micro Enterprise Development Minister Jennifer Baptiste-Primus said, “At the top of my list is to ensure that the tripartite mechanism involving Government, labour and the employer is established so that we can start to enter that realm of industrial peace.”

She said the PNM Government “will be meeting and treating with the labour movement as has never been done before.”

Baptiste-Primus said the labour movement “will be included in the embryonic stages of any changes to take place within the public sector and we expect collaboration and mutual respect.”

She added, “Of course it will not be easy and we will not agree on everything but the mutual respect and at the end of the day we will all work in the best interest of T&T.”

She said, “We already know what are the priorities but at this point in time we have to bring the other stakeholders on board. So I will be meeting with all stakeholders to get their point of view and bring them on board.”

New Community Development, Culture and the Arts Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby Dolly says one of her priority areas of attention would be to refurbish the National Academy for the Performing Arts (Napa) in Port-of-Spain.

“One of my biggest concerns is that the Napa has dilapidated and that is one of the main areas that our cultural people have been complaining about. So we want to take a look at that and make sure that it is back up to scratch,” she said.

New Tourism Minister Shamfa Cudjoe, who is the MP for Tobago West, said she was pleased to be given the opportunity to serve the country at ministerial level.

She said tourism development was very important to the national economy and that of Tobago specifically.

New Public Administration Minister and MP for San Fernando East Randall Mitchell said he was committed to improving the delivery of customer service by public servants and he would seek to train members of the service to achieve that objective.

The ability of newly sworn in Energy Minister Nicole Olivierre to work with the National Gas Company (NGC) and her capacity to manage this critical sector are being called into question as oil prices continue to slide.

Olivierre, the newly elected La Brea MP, has been embroiled in a wrongful dismissal lawsuit with the management of this critical state agency, which now falls under her control. 

Yesterday, political analyst and economist Indera Sagewan-Alli expressed reservations about Olivierre’s appointment given the pending lawsuit and her inexperience.

“I cannot see how sensible it would be to have a minister in a ministry to whom an institution has to report to while she is embroiled in a litigation with them. So it is anybody’s guess at this time as to how this is going to play out or be resolved,” she said.

In 2012 Olivierre, who was employed at NGC since 2002, filed a complaint of wrongful dismissal against the NGC at the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC). She alleged racial discrimination by the company, claiming that NGC refused her access to opportunities for training and promotion based on her race. The matter is still before the EOC.

Sagewan-Alli said she believed a critical factor at this time was the minister resolving the lawsuit and determining to what extent she could work with the NGC.

“Is she prepared to drop the lawsuit in the interest of good faith? To say, look the past is the past, but now I am on new things. Is she prepared to do that? I think we will just have to wait and see,” Sagewan-Alli said. 

Sagewan-Alli said that only time would tell if Olivierre would be able to look past her previous interaction at the NGC and work with the state enterprise’s senior management. 

She said Olivierre should be given the benefit of the doubt.

“If she follows in the words of her political leader, who has indicated he is the Prime Minister of the entire country, which means that she is the Minister of Energy for all the country and including all the institutions that must report to her, therefore she must act with fairness,” Sagewan-Alli added. 

She said there was no way the Energy Minister could avoid having to work very intimately with the NGC, which is one of this country’s major sources of income.

“I think resolution of this particular issue has to be done ASAP. We know that the board will change and the PNM will put in its own board, so she will not have a problem or challenge working with a board of the government’s choice, but the senior management will remain. 

“Is there an acrimonious relationship with her and the senior top management?” she asked.

While Olivierre has a degree in engineering, Sagewan-Alli questioned how many years of experience and depth of experience she has.

“It is something we have to be very concerned about because of the (Energy) sector,” she said. 

Olivierre declined to share her cellphone number when approached by the Sunday Guardian after being sworn in at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s, on Friday. She therefore could not be reached for comment.

NGC congratulates Olivierre

Last night, NGC Marketing and Communications manager Roger Sant did not comment on the matter, but said in a release:

“On behalf of NGC, we wish to extend our sincere congratulations to Ms Nicole Olivierre on the occasion of her appointment as The Honourable Minister of Energy and Energy Industries. We take pride in the appointment of one of our own former employees to this important position and extend our best wishes to the Honourable Minister for every success in the fulfillment of her duties.” 

The Clico Policyholders Group (CPG) says it feels vindicated with the referral of the Central Bank Governor Jwala Rambarran’s report to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Especially since, according to CPG chairman Peter Permell, the group had raised the first red flag in respect of that “obscene, unauthorised and possibly illegal multi-million dollar payout to a few former Clico directors while over 15,000 ‘assenting’ Clico policyholders are still waiting to be paid their just due.”

Permell, through a statement in response to queries from the Sunday Guardian, said the group was looking forward to working with newly sworn-in Finance Minister Colm Imbert to bring closure to the Clico matter in the shortest possible timeframe.

He also added that he was monitoring the developments between the Central Bank Governor and former Clico chairman Gerald Yetming which had been unfolding in the public domain.

Last week, the Trinidad Express reported that Rambarran, in his report on the events surrounding the removal of Yetming and Clico managing director Carolyn John, referred the issue to the DPP to determine if there was any possible criminal liability on Yetming’s and John’s part arising out of the payments to former Clico directors. 

Yetming has dismissed the claims as he said both he and John followed procedure and were in constant communication with Central Bank officials on the payment made under the Clico Resolution Plan. 

When asked to comment on the issue Permell referred to the old African proverb: “When two elephants fight only the grass gets hurt.” 

He said, “Prudence and good sense dictated” that the CPG be very careful not to allow itself to be drawn unwittingly into what appeared to be “a looming Battle Royale or Clash of the Titans, between Rambarran and Yetming which is likely to have a sequel in the courts.”

He said for the most part both men seemed to have agreed with the CPG and the wider public that these payments should not have been made. 

“However, without having sight of either the Central Bank's or the former Clico chairman’s report, it is virtually impossible to properly glean who’s at fault and/or whether there may have been more in the mortar than the pestle,” he added. (RR)