Kamla assures Jack that all's well with PURE

File: PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Jack Warner

Jack Warner told reporters Friday Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has assured him that his ministry’s Programme for Upgrading Roads Efficiency Unit (PURE) will be restructured within the week.

He said Persad-Bissessar told him PURE will remain in the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure and that it would be expected to continue to deliver more and promptly.

The minister made the comment during a break in the sitting of Parliament. Earlier, he had indicated that he was advised that cabinet had rescinded a note to regularise PURE but that no one told him why it was rescinded.

Warner said he is happy that all is well with PURE. He added that once he spoke with the PM the issue was cleared up and he was "the coolest kid in town".

Warner also dimissed a report in a weekly newspaper of a conflict between him and Transport Minister Devant Maharaj. “Devant and I spoke yesterday," he said, adding that neither he nor Maharaj have no idea what the paper was talking about.

Warner also answered questions about the internal politics of his party, the United National Congress (UNC). he is the chairman of the party and might have to defend his post in internal elections that are due in January 2012.

The minister said he has not yet decided if he will run again. And he said anyone is free to run for the post.

And he again dismissed talk of a cabal within the UNC that is against him. "Yes there's talk about a cabal, yes I've heard it all over the place but I don't take it seriously and I want to tell you again I sleep very soundly at nights."

The party's National Executive (NATEX) will be meeting next Wednesday to discuss the election.