‘CEO of the Cabinet’ cuts four, changes 16 areas
A reconstituted Government team enters the Second Session of Parliament today with changes to almost half of its areas including a newly-created Ministry of Gender, Children and Youth Affairs, an Information Ministry and a drastically slashed portfolio for Works Minister Jack Warner.
We must do better
PRIME Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar reshuffled her Cabinet, promoting Dr Delmon Baker as a Minister in the Ministry of Finance, moving Cumuto/Manzanilla MP Collin Partap to be a Minister in the Ministry of National Security, and appointing Minister of Public Utilities Emmanuel George to be Government Chief Whip in the Senate.
PM: Changes to improve delivery
Three new Government Ministries have been created after Saturday’s Cabinet reshuffle.
Axed MPs to sit with audience
Outgoing Members of Parliament who are being replaced may attend, if they so wish, today’s inauguration of the new parliamentary term—but only as guests.
Baptiste-Cornelis, Ramgoolam off to Geneva, NY
SACKED government ministers Therese Baptiste-Cornelis (Health) and Rudrawatee Nan Gosine Ramgoolam (Public Administration) have accepted Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s offer to become this country’s consul-generals in Geneva, Switzerland and New York in the United States respectively.
COP cries foul
The letter was drafted by the executive members of the party after an impromptu closed-door meeting at the Tunapuna constituency office of the political leader Winston Dookeran yesterday.
COP vex over Carolyn
THE Congress of the People (COP) yesterday bemoaned a reshuffle of Cabinet that would demote a key COP member —Energy Minister, Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan — and called for an urgent and immediate meeting with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
Kamla picks Kevin for Energy
Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Energy Kevin Ramnarine, who will be sworn in today as this country’s new Minister of Energy, was told of his impending appointment at Saturday’s meeting with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
Devant vs Jack
The Ministry of Works and Transport (MOWT) has been split into two separate ministries as part of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s Cabinet realignment.
Imbert on splitting Works and Transport: Recipe for chaos
Splitting the Works and Transport Ministry between a Works Minister and a Transport Minister is a recipe for chaos, says former PNM Works Minister Colm Imbert.
Moonilal happy with realignment
Dr Roodal Moonilal, deputy political leader of the United National Congress (unc), Leader of Government Business in the House and Minister of Housing and the Environment, said he was satisfied with the way Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar handled her first realignment of Cabinet ministers on Saturday.
Moonilal praises Kamla’s handling of Cabinet reshuffle
Fuad to take up post tomorrow
New Minister of Health Dr Fuad Khan’s appointment will be delayed today due to the absence from the country of House Speaker Wade Mark.
Khan’s vision for ‘mini-hospitals’
Cabinet changes
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar last night confirmed major changes to her Cabinet, from a slate of new Government ministers to a re-alignment of certain ministries in what, we hope, is an attempt to ensure smoother implementation of policies and to make her Government work better. We wish her luck.
Timely reshuffle
It seemed as if none of the Ministers rumoured to be affected by last weekend’s Cabinet reshuffle had any idea of what was going on with their careers on Saturday.
Parliament opens today
THE CEREMONIAL opening of the Second Session of the Tenth Parliament takes place at the Red House today from 1.30 pm and is expected to be significant for several reasons.
COP has fair share
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar disagrees that the Congress of the People (COP) was unfairly treated in changes to Cabinet portfolios and said all members of the People’s Partnership have been “accommodated.”
PM: COP got fair deal in shake-up
We’re fair to COP
COP unhappy with reshuffle
Letter requesting ‘urgent’ meeting sent to PM
COP accepts Cabinet changes
IN contrast to the long faces at Sunday’s emergency meeting of the COP National Executive, at yesterday’s Ceremonial Opening of Parliament at the Red House top COP members were quietly accepting the reality of the Cabinet reshuffle done hours before by the swearing-in of new ministers.
Dookeran: We won’t be undermined
OUTGOING Congress of the People (COP) political leader Winston Dookeran yesterday said the COP is not at risk of being undermined by any other political entity within the People’s Partnership coalition.
Carolyn: No hard feelings
Energy Minister Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan said while she was disappointed that she was moved from the Energy Ministry, it was not about her feelings, but about serving the country.
Party being marginalised—ex-senator
Some elements of the PP appear bent on “UNC-fying” the coalition Partnership, says former senator Patrick Watson.
Anil against COP’s stand on reshuffle
Verna: My focus is on the children
…I accept for children’s sake
Devant to meet Jack
NEWLY APPOINTED Transport Minister Devant Maharaj yesterday said details of how this ministry will work will be ironed out this week.
MPATT happy Health Minister has been removed
PM reviewing Sasha contract
Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar said yesterday she had asked her Permanent Secretary to look into the contract of Sasha Mohammed, her adviser on public engagement.
Reshuffle a distraction
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s Government reshuffle is a distraction from the scandal and controversy surrounding Government Minister Jack Warner, says Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley.
Rowley: Kamla sailing ‘PP Titanic’
OPPOSITION LEADER Dr Keith Rowley yesterday described the Cabinet changes which Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar made to her one-year old People’s Partnership coalition government as “the PP Titanic sailing confidently towards the iceberg of public opinion.”
Subhas: I turned down diplomatic post
Bas: I’m not my brother’s keeper
“I’m not my brother’s keeper.” That was former UNC leader Basdeo Panday’s response on the dismissal of his brother Subhas Panday as People’s Partnership Senate leader and junior minister.
Kamla, Govt MPs in show of unity
IN a show of unity 24 hours after she reshuffled her Cabinet, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar marched her elected MPs into the Parliament Chamber of the Red House for the last ceremonial opening of Parliament that will take place there for the next two years.
Progress and change
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s reshuffle of her Government has been more sweeping than anticipated, the resulting parliamentary reverberations deeper than customary, with the posts of whips and deputy presiding officers affected by the administrative reassembly.
PNM caused Minister’s downfall says Roberts
Sports Minister Anil Roberts said Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan has no one but herself to blame for her removal from Energy to the Public Administration Ministry, because she surrounded herself with PNM advisors, contrary to advice from him and others.
…Carolyn knocks Anil
…Drop Out, Anil
Congress of the People (COP) foundation member Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan yesterday called on COP colleague and Sport Minister Anil Roberts to pull out of the election race after he criticised her performance over the last year as Energy Minister.
…Roberts ‘sorry for her constituents’
Sport Minister Anil Roberts yesterday stood by his criticisms of former energy minister Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan, saying she never returned his phone calls in the past 13 months and continued to keep PNM advisers close.
Confident Anil: My back is broad
On Sunday, members of the Congress of the People (COP) will elect a new political leader.
Devant at PTSC for now
NEWLY APPOINTED Transport Minister Devant Maharaj will operate from the offices of the Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC) at City Gate in Port-of-Spain until new office space can be found for his ministry.
Subhas stands by PP
Pledging allegiance to the ruling People’s Partnership (PP) administration, former government senator Subhas Panday, on Monday expressed satisfaction at his one-year tour of duty as a Minister in the Ministry of National Security and added that he had emerged with his character unscathed and integrity intact.
Jack: I’ll work where PM chooses
De Lima was ‘hoping for Jack’s removal from the pack’
Bring back Hart if Warner stays
COP’s Robert Mayers to PM:
Expert: There are laws to get ‘goods’ on Warner
It has nothing to do with FIFA
Unfazed by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s decision to split his ministerial portfolio, Works Minister Jack Warner has vowed to work even harder and retain his title as the most popular…
Warner: I will remain most popular minister
MINISTER of Works Jack Warner said yesterday only Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar could explain why his ministerial portfolio was cut, but he would remain the most popular minister in Cabinet….
Moonilal to Rowley: Focus on PNM affairs
Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley needs to focus on the affairs of the PNM rather than that of the People’s Partnership, says Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal.