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