While making it clear that he is aiming at a “small, muscular Cabinet” with emphasis on economic diplomacy, President David Granger yesterday confirmed that Carl Greenidge has agreed to take up the appointment of Minister of Foreign Affairs, while economist Winston Jordan would be the new Minister of Finance.
Granger also said he was expected to meet Prime Minister-designate Moses Nagamootoo to discuss the other Cabinet appointments.
Both Greenidge, who previously served as Finance Minister when the PNC led government, and Jordan had been touted for the posts since Saturday, when the new administration came into power following the swearing-in of Granger by virtue of the APNU+AFC’s narrow victory over the PPP/C at last Monday’s general and regional elections.
Jordan’s is considered to be a technocrat appointment as he has held no political positions. He actually worked as a budget advisor under the PPP/C’s only technocrat appointee in recent times, Dr Ashni Singh, who eventually became a party candidate. But sometime between late 2008 and early 2009 he involuntary left the position he had held for many years and was replaced by Sonia Roopnauth.
As per the Cummingsburg Accord, Granger pointed out, APNU and the AFC had agreed to share the Cabinet positions on a 60/40 basis in favour of APNU. He announced yesterday that the Cabinet would number about 15 persons, with APNU entitled to nine seats and the AFC to six. “We still have work out the details,” he, however, added.
Stabroek News has been told that APNU executive Basil Williams is tipped to be the Attorney-General, while APNU Deputy leader Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, who is going to be one of the three vice-presidents, will be responsible for Natural Resources & the Environment. Another APNU member, Ronald Bulkan, is expected to be the Minister of Public Works and Dr George Norton senior Minister of Health and Dr Karen Cummings his junior. From the AFC, Cathy Hughes is tipped to be the Minister of Tourism and the party leader Khemraj Ramjattan could very well hold the position of Minister of Home Affairs.
“There would be some junior ministers in the Cabinet. I am aiming at a small, muscular hard working Cabinet and I am putting the emphasis on economic diplomacy…,” Granger said yesterday, minutes after he emerged from a high-level meeting with some senior members of APNU in the Castellani House compound.
The President pointed out that the ministers cannot be appointed until they become Members of Parliament. This should occur soon as the 11th Parliament would be convened, within two weeks’ time.
Granger also maintained that as Head of State his focus would be ensuring the creation of a government that can improve the economy and people’s quality of life. “We want to reduce poverty and improve the quality of life, that is important focus for me,” he said.
Meanwhile, Granger also addressed the fate of the proposed Specialty Hospital, the Amaila Falls Project and the fibre optic cable project, which were pursued by the former PPP/C-led government. In relation to the first two projects, he pointed out that it was former president Donald Ramotar who would have effectively killed them as he would have withdrawn the contract for the Specialty Hospital and also discontinued the Amaila Falls project. As it relates to the fibre optic cable project, he said “it just imploded, it just petered out.”
The former government was forced to file a lawsuit against the Specialty Hospital contractor Surendra Engineering for breach of contract and fraud and sought damages to the tune of $100 million and the recovery of US$4.2 million ($865 million) in advance payments for the project.
Before US-based Sithe Global pulled out as the developer of the US$858.2 million, 165 megawatt hydropower venture, the Amaila Falls project was shrouded in controversy as costs escalated. Sithe Global had pulled out of the project in August, 2013, citing a lack of political consensus. The company had issued explicit statements that unless all three parties then in Parliament backed two measures for the project, it would walk.
Addressing the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association in March of this year, then opposition leader Granger had said that if elected president he would move to maximise alternative energy options and signalled plans to reform the Amaila Falls project.
Asked if he would resuscitate the fibre optic cable project, Granger said he would have “to look to see how much money has been lost, how much damage has been done and whether we need that type of cable for our ICT programme.”
Following the problems encountered with the $1 billion cable project, which was headed by former president Ramotar’s son, Alexei Ramotar, the previous administration had contracted Dax Engine-ering, which had indicated that it would cost another $2 billion to fix. The project, which included the laying of the fibre optic cable from Brazil, commenced in January 2011 and was supposed to be completed in 2012.
