Gavin Nicholas for UK High Commissioner?

There is speculation that Gavin Nicholas the People's Partnership Government will appoint Press Secretary Garvin Nicholas as the Trinidad and Tobago High Commissioner to London.to

But neither Nicholas nor the government has confirmed this.

Highly placed government sources told JYOTI over the weekend Nicholas was being moved to a new portfolio.

Nicholas told the Trinidad Guardian he is unaware of any decision on the matter and that he continues to serve as press secretary.

The Guardian reported that Nicholas was not at Persad-Bissessar's side at last Sunday’s Under-17 football game at the national stadium and that journalist Ken Ali assisted the Prime Minister’s staff in preparing media releases last week during the Tobago retreat. The paper said the government has confirmed Ali’s role.

With respect to the diplomatic posting, the paper quoted Nicholas as saying that he had heard media rumours about being posted to London but no discussion had taken place on it.

He declined to say if he would take such a job. "I can’t say if the offer is not there; I’d also heard I was to head the Diego Martin Corporation but that wasn’t true either,” he said.

The Guardian said some members of the government have complained about Nicholas’ performance, particularly during Persad-Bissessar’s recent New York visit.

The Guardian said it asked Foreign Affairs Minister Suruj Rambachan about diplomatic positions. It reported that the minister said selections for diplomatic postings are in the hands of the Prime Minister. Recommendations and consultations are underway to ensure the best selection to promote T&T’s trade and investment and secure its diplomatic ties, he said.

The Guardian also reported that journalist Clevon Raphael will be moving into government information as adviser/communications director for the Office of the Attorney General, attributing the information to government sources.

"I prefer not to comment," the paper quoted Raphael as saying.