(Trinidad Guardian) Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has ordered all Cabinet ministers to cancel overseas trips for the upcoming week. The Prime Minister, Sunday Guardian learnt, gave the instruction last week indicating that all government ministers must attend Thursday’s Cabinet meeting at the Office of the Prime Minister in St Clair.
Insiders told Sunday Guardian that the instruction is in light of the Cabinet reshuffle and the reconfiguration of state boards that is expected to be announced later this week. “The Prime Minister is going to announce the changes. It is going to be quite a few. Some may come as a surprise but it is all in the best interest of the country,” a top Cabinet source revealed.
Cabinet sources said from as early as tomorrow, the Prime Minister is expected to meet with some of her ministers and heads of state boards to receive an account of their mandate, since they assumed their ministerial portfolios and positions. The meetings are expected to continue until Wednesday.
Following the three-day meeting, Sunday Guardian learnt the Prime Minister is expected to meet with all ministers on Thursday in a marathon session to discuss the various changes before making them public. Cabinet sources said the Prime Minister has expressed a considerable amount of concern over crime and the economy. Reliable sources told Sunday Guardian that the Ministry of National Security headed by Brig John Sandy is expected to be split.
Economist Jwala Rambarran is being seen as a potential replacement for Finance Minister Winston Dookeran. Rambarran could not be reached for comment last night. These two key areas, according to political analyst Dr Bishnu Ragoonath, are more than likely to see some changes. Ragoonath said the implementation of the new crime plan by the National Security Minister was an indication that his position was in jeopardy.
However, Ragoonath said the answer was not Minister of Works and Infrastructure Jack Warner. “I do not see the Prime Minister moving Mr Warner, given his popular position. He is working where he is. He may be given additional responsibilities but he would not be removed. He is in the corner of the Prime Minister and is a key player,” Ragoonath said.
Also sitting in a comfortable position is Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal. “The housing minister is not going to be displaced. He is working and he seems to have things under control at his ministry.” However, Ragoonath said while Dookeran may be replaced because of the state of the economy, it may be at the request of the minister.
“Mr Dookeran may very well want to be relieved from his finance portfolio given all that is being said. I really do not believe that if he is removed, it is because of lack of performance.” Food and Production Minister Vasant Bharath, Ragoonath said, should be allowed to follow through on his agricultural plan for his ministry.
“Quite frankly, the minister is best suited there at this point in time. He started an agricultural plan and should be allowed to finish it.” He said other changes are expected to be seen at the Ministry of Transport, and Trade and Industry. “These ministers have not performed the way I think the Prime Minister expected them to. In fact, I think the Prime Minister has marketed T&T more than the minister.”
Sources said Tertiary Education Minister Fazal Karim was likely to replace Cadiz.
