That was the "significant" announcement that Prime Minister Kamala Persad-Bissessar promised Thursday night when she began her speech at the People's Partnership rally at the car park of the Mid Centre Mall.
The announcement came at the end of a lengthy report to the nation on her government's performance over the past two years, particularly the second year in office.
Persad-Bissessar said she has decided to call in her cabinet and the state boards to make a "frank assessment" of their performances after which she would reconfigure her cabinet and the boards.
“This is a time when we must take the nation’s development to a whole new phase. To achieve this I am calling in all my ministers," she told the thousands who had gathered for the anniversary celebration.
"Our discussions must be frank and cordial. But we must do this on the basis of evaluating performance and after having evaluated their performance, I will then undertake a reconfiguration of the Cabinet of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and of the State boards,” she said.
It would be the second major reconfiguration of the cabinet. The first was done in June 2011 when she fired her minister of health and handed the job to Dr Fuad Khan. In that shuffle she also brought in Kevin Ramnarine as the energy minister, moving Carloyn Seepersad-Bachan energy to Public Administration and sending Nan Ramgoolam to New York to be the T&T Consul General.
And she handed Suruj Rambachan responsibility for Communication, giving him Nicole Dyer-Griffith as his parliamentary secretary.
Persad-Bissessar spent a long time outlining significant achievements of her government in every area from health care to education, social services and infrastructure. She also made it clear that her government has been good to labour and left the door open to continue to partner with labour.
She stated that her government has built a solid foundation upon which to advance the “blueprint for national development that would be historic in nature". She promised to launch that in June.
“It would be presented to the business and national community within two weeks, along with those who would hold the portfolios as members of the Cabinet and State enterprises—the A team who would take this forward over the next few years,” she said.
Persad Bissessar added that the nation is "ready to take off to new heights", adding that there is no time for divisiveness.
She said she would not apologise for celebrating because there is much to celebrate.
"Your critics have suggested you should not celebrate your anniversary...some of them who didn’t get all the gifts they wanted, today they wanted to call off the celebration, but they still wanted to stay around and eat the cake and enjoy the ice cream," she said in a clear reference to the Movement for Social Justice (MSJ), which stayed away from the rally, calling it "inappropriate" but at the same time saying it would support the partnership.
The MSJ did not send any representative. The void was filled by Labour Minister Errol McLeod who chastised his former colleagues in the labour movement.
Persad-Bissessar said her coalition government is about diversity, not adversity. "For those who speak about withdrawal and talk about walk-outs, I say to them ‘you may have an intense view and an intense moment, but such a strategy could never be one that is deliberate’.”
She noted the absence of the MSJ and sent a message to its leader, David Abdulah. “Never mind David I still love you.”
Persad-Bissessar noted that her government has been and continues to be under attack within and without. She said those who are opposed to change are using every resource at their disposal, including the media, the public service, labour and even the very membership of the People’s Partnership.
The leader of the Congress of the People (COP) pledged his full support for the People's Partnership but at the same time asked for the rules of engagement to be fair and respectful on both sides.
Prakash Ramadhar said, "COP is committed to the People's partnership and we will do everything to make this the most successful government ever." He took issue with members of his party who suggested that by appearing on the Partnership platform COP would diminish its standing. "COP will never lose if the People's Partnership wins," he said.
At the same time he made it clear that all is not well and suggested it is time to "press the reset button" to get back on the agenda agreed prior to the 2010 general election.
He said COP would not be "baited" to make harsh decisions and suggested that it is time to work together. "You have a genuine partner," he told the PM, adding, "Let us work together to deliver."
Ramadhar also announced that the Prime Minister has charged him with the responsibility of constitutional reform and pledged that he would have a blueprint by the end of the partnership's third year in office. He said it would be prepared after exhaustive consultation with the people.
Ramadhar said one of the things he wants in any new constitutional arrangements is Proportional Representation. (CLICK HERE to read Ramadhar's full speech)
Persad-Bissessar spent a long time outlining significant achievements of her government in every area from health care to education, social services and infrastructure. She also made it clear that her government has been good to labour and left the door open to continue to partner with labour.
She stated that her government has built a solid foundation upon which to advance the “blueprint for national development that would be historic in nature". She promised to launch that in June.
“It would be presented to the business and national community within two weeks, along with those who would hold the portfolios as members of the Cabinet and State enterprises—the A team who would take this forward over the next few years,” she said.
Persad Bissessar added that the nation is "ready to take off to new heights", adding that there is no time for divisiveness.
She said she would not apologise for celebrating because there is much to celebrate.
"Your critics have suggested you should not celebrate your anniversary...some of them who didn’t get all the gifts they wanted, today they wanted to call off the celebration, but they still wanted to stay around and eat the cake and enjoy the ice cream," she said in a clear reference to the Movement for Social Justice (MSJ), which stayed away from the rally, calling it "inappropriate" but at the same time saying it would support the partnership.
The MSJ did not send any representative. The void was filled by Labour Minister Errol McLeod who chastised his former colleagues in the labour movement.
Persad-Bissessar said her coalition government is about diversity, not adversity. "For those who speak about withdrawal and talk about walk-outs, I say to them ‘you may have an intense view and an intense moment, but such a strategy could never be one that is deliberate’.”
She noted the absence of the MSJ and sent a message to its leader, David Abdulah. “Never mind David I still love you.”
Persad-Bissessar noted that her government has been and continues to be under attack within and without. She said those who are opposed to change are using every resource at their disposal, including the media, the public service, labour and even the very membership of the People’s Partnership.
The leader of the Congress of the People (COP) pledged his full support for the People's Partnership but at the same time asked for the rules of engagement to be fair and respectful on both sides.
Prakash Ramadhar said, "COP is committed to the People's partnership and we will do everything to make this the most successful government ever." He took issue with members of his party who suggested that by appearing on the Partnership platform COP would diminish its standing. "COP will never lose if the People's Partnership wins," he said.
At the same time he made it clear that all is not well and suggested it is time to "press the reset button" to get back on the agenda agreed prior to the 2010 general election.
He said COP would not be "baited" to make harsh decisions and suggested that it is time to work together. "You have a genuine partner," he told the PM, adding, "Let us work together to deliver."
Ramadhar also announced that the Prime Minister has charged him with the responsibility of constitutional reform and pledged that he would have a blueprint by the end of the partnership's third year in office. He said it would be prepared after exhaustive consultation with the people.
Ramadhar said one of the things he wants in any new constitutional arrangements is Proportional Representation. (CLICK HERE to read Ramadhar's full speech)
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