Rudy ready to rumble

Couva South MP Rudy Indarsingh is ready to get down to brass tacks in his new position as Minister in the Ministry of Labour and Small and Micro Enterprise Development from this morning. Indarsingh was moved as Minister in the Ministry of Works and Transport by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to render his expertise in the field of labour in that ministry headed by Errol McLeod. Indarsingh said he was called to a meeting with the PM on Thursday night at the PM’s La Fantasie residence where she informed him of her decision.

Indarsingh said he was only too willing to serve in whatever position the PM required him to do. Indarsingh has 20 years experience as a trade unionist and served as president of the All Trinidad Sugar and General Workers’ Trade Union before his entry into the political arena in 2010. He said he would know what his exact duties are when he moves into his new offices today and meets with McLeod. Sources at the Ministry of Labour, however, said Indarsingh was called in to render his trade union expertise in dealing with issues arising in the Unemployment Relief Programme and the 20,000 people it employed.

Indarsingh said his new portfolio would not take away from his responsibility as a Member of Parliament and his willingness to meet with his constituents. He said he has brought relief to the people of Phoenix Park who suffered for years from a dust problem and had started putting issues such as crime and social development for the underprivileged on the front burner. Indarsingh has also been involved in projects geared towards the economic growth of his constituents. He started a weekly constituency tour in 2011 that would see him entering various communities every Sunday to get feedback from constituents as to their needs. His first meeting was on January 9 with the villagers of Esperanza. His next meeting will be with the people of Lisas Gardens.