Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar again defended her decision to reshuffle the Cabinet for the third time in the three years the People's Partnership has been in government."I am sure that I am not the only Prime Minister in history to reshuffle cabinet more than once."She said this following the swearing-in of three new members of her Government at the President's House yesterday.
The new members are National Security Minister Gary Griffith, Communications Minister Gerald Hadeed and Minister in the Ministry of Gender and Child Development Raziah Ahmed.The swearing-in was witnessed by members of Government and only a few media personnel, as the room for the ceremony was too small.Asked to comment on criticism of her appointment of Emmanuel George as Justice Minister, Persad-Bissessar said she saw no issue with the appointment.
"There is no requirement in law for the Justice Minister to be a lawyer, just like there is no requirement for any other minister. The only minister required to be a lawyer is the Attorney General, and that is for peculiar reasons in addition to all the law departments that fall under that particular ministry."Persad-Bissessar said the Minister of Housing didn't have to be a housing contractor and the Minister of Drainage didn't have to be a drainage engineer.
"I think Minister George has the management skills. He has worked in the public service for a very long time. I trust he will do well and he will be assisted by the technocrats at his own ministry. It is not only law but the management of the criminal justice system."Persad-Bissessar also expressed confidence in the new appointments to her Government, saying she knew the three for a long time and expected them to do well.
Hadeed, former chairman of the Airports Authority, told the media he was prepared to offer truth and transparency in his ministry.In a statement to the media, he promised the communications ministry would not be a "propaganda ministry."