Indarsingh takes up new post at labour ministry; expected to tackle URP problems

Couva South MP Rudranath Indarsingh began his new assignment as a minister in the Ministry of Labour Monday, joining Errol McLeod.

He told reporters he has always had an excellent relationship with McLeod, whom he has known for more than 20 years. Both ministers are labour stalwarts. McLeod served for many years as President General of the Oilfield Workers Trade Union and Indarsingh headed the All Trinidad general Workers' Trade Union.

Indarsingh's shift from the Works Ministry is the first change that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has made to the executive lineup since taking office in May last year.

On Sunday she promised more changes at the junior level, making it clear that she is satisfied with the performance of her senior cabinet ministers. She said the shift at the lower level is to ensure that there is greater emphasis this year on the delivery of services.

Minister of Arts and Multiculturalism, Winston "Gypsy" Peters, is happy with the change at the labour ministry, which has responsibility for the URP program.

Peters had complained that supporters of the People's Partnership (PP) were not getting work in the program while supporters of the opposition People's National Movement (PNM) were behaving as if the "make-work" project was a form of permanent employment to which they alone were entitled.

Peters told local media he raised the issue recently with the Prime Minister and added that some of his colleagues in the PP supported his view.

The Trinidad Express quoted Peters as saying that he is happy that Indarsingh will now be able to lend a hand to Mc Leod to deal with the URP problem. "I feel very satisfied and I believe that we are going to do the right thing and put everything in order," he told the paper.

Peters noted that the URP is a form of temporary employment which is supposed to benefit all the people through short term employment. "This thing belongs to all of us and we have to make sure that everybody gets a piece of the pie at least," said Peters, who added that the whole program ought to be revamped.

"URP can play a very important role if managed properly and the people are actually put to work and not have this give me hand out thing. I'm totally against that," Peters told the paper.