Cabinet shuffle coming? Rambachan says no

The Express newspaper reported on Sunday that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is planning some changes to her cabinet, citing unnamed "reliable" sources.

However JYOTI's government sources have said they are not aware of any such plans.

The Express said its sources have indicated that Persad-Bissessar will do the shuffle in May shortly after she returns home from the 6th Summit of the Americas, which is taking place in Colombia later this month.

The paper said the Prime Minister plans to shift around at least three ministers - Food Production Minister Vasant Bharath, Finance Minister Winston Dookeran and Foreign Affairs and Communications Minister Surujrattan Rambachan.

In addition the paper added that Marlene Coudray would be appointed to the Senate and brought into cabinet.

It that happens it would solve the impasse with the Congress of the People (COP) for now since Coudray would have to resign as Mayor of San Fernando. That is something that COP has demanded following Coudray's defection to the United National Congress (UNC) and her subsequent election to a post of deputy leader of the UNC.

The Express quoted the communications minister as saying he has no knowledge of a cabinet shuffle.