Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles is questioning whether the Prime Minister’s Cabinet realignment was driven by internal power struggles in the United National Congress.
In a statement on social media yesterday, Beckles said Kamla Persad-Bissessar was “playing smart with foolishness,” as she had denied rumours of a Cabinet reshuffle just weeks ago.
Beckles said the nation awoke on Saturday to the announcement of a “major portfolio reshuffle,” carried out in the “dead of the night.”
“Following what has been a record of no delivery, no action and no performance, other than the Landmark scandal, Saddam Hosein has been rewarded with responsibility for key agencies and programmes.
“The new assignments give him responsibility for, among other areas, the Government-Aided Self-Help Housing Programme, the Housing and Village Improvement Programme and several state enterprises,” Beckles said.
Hosein also now has responsibility for Hydrographic Surveys, Caroni (1975) Limited, Golden Grove Buccoo Limited, Palo Seco Agricultural Enterprises Limited (PSAEL), Rincon Development Limited, Sugar Manufacturing Company Limited, the Sugar Industry Labour Welfare Committee, Taurus Services Limited and TRINTOC Services Limited.
Persad-Bissessar told Guardian Media she was very confident that Hosein can manage the additional workload.
Beckles also slammed the reassignment of the On-the-Job Training Programme to the Ministry of Public Utilities, saying the programme is now set to receive its final rites.
“One wonders whether these reassignments have resulted from any serious reflection on the national interest, or whether they have much more to do with the UNC’s internal elections.
“Are our young people, already threatened by harsh restrictions and fines courtesy the UNC, now to be used as pawns in a recruitment and mobilisation drive for a particular aspiring Prime Minister within the UNC?” Beckles asked.
Saying the country deserves stable, patriotic and people-centred leadership, Beckles said after a year of non-performance by her ministers, the Prime Minister carried out a sleight-of-hand Cabinet reshuffle.
“… which raises serious questions about whether these changes are being driven by the national interest or by internal power struggles within her own party and the incessant need to pacify the friends and financiers of the UNC.”
— Sharlene Rampersad
