(Trinidad Express) The election year of 2020 will begin with a political bang as Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley this morning announced a shakeup up to his Cabinet.
One of the significant changes is the movement of Leader of Government Business Camille Robinson-Regis as Minister of Planning to the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services.
Minister of Social Development and Family Services Cherrie Ann Crichlow-Cockburn has been fired and replaced by Leader of Government Business Camille Robinson-Regis.
Crichlow-Cockburn has been demoted to Minister in the Ministry of Planning which will now be held by the Prime Minister.
This Ministry is the instrumental in the distribution of social grants.
A release from the Office of the Prime Minister stated that the Prime Minister advised President Paula Mae Weekes to revoke the appointment of Minister Cherrie Ann Crichlow-Cockburn as Minister of Social Development and Family Services and reassign her as Minister in the Ministry of Planning and Development, to assist the Minister in the performance of such duties as may be specified from time to time.
The Prime Minister has taken control of the Planning portfolio held by Robinson-Regis.
Senator Adrian Leonce has been shifted as Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Public Utilities and reassigned as Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Works and Transport where he will assist Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan.
Government Senator Foster Cummings has been appointed as Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government, to assist the Minister Kazim Hosein.
The appointments will take effect from January 1, 2020.
The release from the Office of the Prime Minister:
Reassignments, Revocations and Appointments
Prime Minister Dr the Honourable Keith Rowley, has advised Her Excellency Paula-Mae Weekes, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to with effect from Wednesday 01 January, 2020 and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 3(9), 76(3) and 79(1) and 82(1):
(i) revoke the assignment of Ms. Cherrie-Ann Crichlow-Cockburn as Minister of Social Development and Family Services and reassign her as Minister in the Ministry of Planning and Development, to assist the Minister in the performance of such duties as may be specified from time to time;
(ii) revoke the assignment of Mrs. Camille Robinson-Regis as Minister of Planning and Development and reassign her as Minister of Social Development and Family Services;
(iii) revoke the assignment of Mr. Adrian Leonce as Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Public Utilities and reassign him as Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Works and Transport, to assist the Minister in the performance of such duties as may be specified from time to time;
(iv) appoint Mr. Foster Cummings, a Senator, as Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government, to assist the Minister in the performance of such duties as may be specified from time to time;
(v) appoint Dr. Keith Christopher Rowley as Minister of Planning and Development, in addition to his present duties as Prime Minister.