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‘Some surprises, but hoping for the best’

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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.


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