No retreat, but Kamla gov't will meet to assess its work

The People’s Partnership Government will hold a seminar next month to review all of its actions since being elected on May 24 with a strong majority.

The purpose of the gathering is conduct a critical analysis as the government approaches its 120th day in office and to ensure that it is well on its way to fulfilling its pledges to citizens.

The Seminar will involve the entire People’s Partnership Parliamentary caucus who will discuss issues ranging from governance of the country and the role of the Parliament to performance of individual members in their day to day activities.

Government Chief Whip in the House of Representatives Dr Roodal Moonilal expects this to happen in August when Parliament is in recess. Moonilal told the Newsday newspaper the gathering is unlike the expensive retreats that used to be a feature of the Manning administration.

He said this will be an event that normally would have taken place earlier but everyone has been occupied with getting things done.

The devastating floods right at the start of the administration, he said, was one of the issues that had to be addressed immediately. Others included crime, the appointment of a new Commissioner of Police, a new Police Service Commission and various issues issues related to mismanagement in the public sector.

He made it clear that this gathering will be done at minimal cost and will not have the extravagance associated with the retreats of the previous PNM government. At the same time it will ensure that there is "no disconnect" with the people.

The seminar will focus on how the government will ensure that it can deliver on its 32-item pledge, which includes laptop computers for secondary school students, the $3,000 pension and the establishment of the Ministry of the People.

The government has already delivered on some of the promises and is working on getting others in place as quickly as possible.

However, finance Minister Winston Dookeran has warned that the economy is not as buoyant as it could have been and this will affect the government's ability to full deliver on its pledges.