New-look
Cabinet keeps a few old faces
Port Spain
Petroleumworldtt.com
11 11 07
WHILE
Prime Minister Patrick Manning totally revamped his Cabinet on Thursday, he
made sure to include
some familiar faces close to him.
Both National Security Minister Martin Joseph
and Works and Transport Minister Colm Imbert kept
their portfolios.
Jerry Narace, who is well known as the People's
National Movement's PRO and Ambassador Plenipotentiary,
was one of the surprises. He was given the post
of Health Minister.
Christine Kangaloo, who was successful in securing
the Point-a-Pierre seat for the PNM, was also appointed
as the new Minister of Tertiary Education.
Dr Keith Rowley, who formerly held the Housing
Ministry portfolio, was appointed the new Minister
of Trade, a post formerly held by ousted former
Diego Martin Central MP Ken Valley.
Senator Arnold Piggott was meanwhile moved from
the Foreign Affairs Ministry to the Ministry of
Agriculture and Mustapha Abdul Hamid, who won the
Chaguanas East seat and is the former tertiary
education minister, was given the Public Utilities
portfolio. Arima MP Penelope Beckles formerly held
that position, but was not given a portfolio.
Rennie Dumas, who was victorious in Tobago East
,was appointed Minister of Labour and Small and
Micro Enterprise Development, a post held by former
PNM Senator Danny Montano. Dumas previously held
the Local Government portfolio. Surprisingly, Senator
Hazel Manning, who was Education Minister for the
past five years, was appointed to undertake this
responsibility.
Leader of Government Business in the Senate and
former Public Administration and Energy Minister,
Dr Lenny Saith, was relieved of a heavy burden
and made Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister.
Conrad Enill, will now head the Energy Ministry.
He was formerly a Minister in the Ministry of Finance.
Narace told the Express that he looks forward
to working as the new Health Minister and praised
former MP John Rahael for his work over the past
five years.
The Medical Professionals Association, in a press
release, welcomed to appointment of Narace and
said it was ready to work with him to the benefit
of the health sector.
Enill meanwhile said he was well versed in the
Energy Ministry, as he was a member of the energy
sub-committee and was also very familiar with the
decisions that have been made over the past five
years in that ministry.
Imbert said there were too many projects and plans
under his belt, that simply would have taken a
new person a long time to learn.
"There are so many projects in place. We
will continue the water taxis, the interchange,
the overpasses, freeways," he said.
Story
by Anna
Ramdass from
Trinidad Express
aramdass@trinidadexpress.com
Saturday, November 10th 2007
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