PM Kamla in no hurry; says cabinet changes for greater delivery of service

PM Kamla Pertsad-Bissessar 

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar told reporters Monday she is not going to make hasty decisions on reconfiguring her cabinet. She said one of the things she is considering is the impact any change would have on the harmony within the People's Partnership government.

The Prime Minister also said she is taking here time in making a final decision on chairmen of State-owned enterprises.

Persad-Bissessar spoke with reporters after the launch of the Character Education and Citizenry Development Fund at Hilton Trinidad hotel in St Ann's.

"I will take all factors into consideration...at the end of the day it is government performance that is important and, therefore, I'll be looking to see how best we can reconfigure for greater effect and greater delivery of the goods and services in our nation," Persad-Bissessar said.

The Prime Minister made her first cabinet changes in June 2011 when she moved Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan from Energy Minister to the Minister of Public Administration. Seepersad-Bachan is a member of the Congress of the People (COP) and the MP for San Fernando West.

She later fired COP member Mary King from the Cabinet. However King's successor was Dr Bhoe Tewarie, who is also a COP member.

Reporters asked the PM if she would consider including in her cabinet unelected persons who are not at present in Parliament. "Anything is possible," local media quoted her as saying.

The Prime Minister said she asked all of the members of her Cabinet to cancel any travel plans this week because the Parliament is to be prorogued on Friday and all members are needed to vote on special majority bills.