Several advisers and personal assistants who worked with former prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar have already resigned, an official at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) said yesterday. The official said when a government changed, it was usually the norm for such positions to become vacant and then refilled by those close to the ruling party.
Contacted yesterday special adviser to Persad-Bissessar Shem Baldeosingh admitted he had resigned. Asked what were his plans Baldeosingh said they were “indeterminate.” On his experience with the former PM, Baldeosingh described that as a tremendous one. “The people I have worked with also have made it all the more enriching,” Baldeosingh added.
Press secretary for the OPM Francis Joseph said his two-and-a-half years would end in the next three months but if offered the opportunity he would work with Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley. “My work continues with the new Prime Minister, performing the same duties as I did with the last prime minister. My contract was for two-and-a-half years and this ends on December 4, 2015.
“If the new Prime Minister wishes to retain me after the expiration of my contract, so be it. If not, I will move on,” Joseph said He added he had been a member of the media for 32 years and during such time he had made a number of new contacts, especially while working for the State for the past five years.
Joseph attended Rowley’s swearing in as Prime Minister yesterday. Chief executive officer of State-owned CNMG, Ken Ali, said while he had not resigned he was expected to do so soon. He said he would tender his resignation as soon as a line minister had been appointed as there was a certain process to be followed.
Describing his position as one of the “most stressful” over the last five years Ali said he had been a media practitioner for the past 42 years and during that time he was mostly engrossed in work. “So I had not had any personal time for myself or even my family. I have also not had many holidays and many personal things that I wanted to do had also been put on hold,” Ali said. He added he was looking forward and was “very anxious” to do some of these things finally.