Ganga debunks minister rumours

Former national cricket captain and Sports Ambassador, Daren Ganga has dispelled as rumours of his possible elevation to the post of Minister of Sport in T&T.

Currently, Dr Rupert Griffith is acting in the post but social media was active yesterday, with some people saying that the former West Indies opener was tipped to take the position. 

The position became vacant when Anil Roberts resigned last week, after four years at the helm of the ministry. Roberts tendered his resignation after allegations of wrong doing by officials of LifeSport.

When T&T Guardian spoke to Ganga in St Kitts yesterday he said: “No one has contacted me on that matter.” The man who has been credited with leading this country through their most successful period in regional cricket then laughed and said: “Boy what you saying? That is all rumours as far as I know.”

Sources close to the situation said that Ganga has been approached at an un-official level and the People’s Partnership (PP) Government is still looking at a number of people before making an official approach. According to one insider: “Ganga has been one of many who different people have asked if he is interested in the job and right now a number of top people are being approached and then one of them will get the official offer.”

However, for Ganga to become Sports Minister he must be appointed a senator which means the Prime Minister will have to sever ties with a sitting senator to appoint a new minister outside her Cabinet.

Whoever goes into the position would have their hands full, after the damage done to the ministry, based on the LifeSport revelation. On the other hand they would also be in a position to hand over a number of massive projects that was piloted by Roberts. Among them are the world class Aquatic Centre, the Cycling Velodrome and the Tennis Centre. 

The Tennis Centre would be the first to be handed over and this is expected to be done in November. The other mega-projects are all estimated to be completed by May of next year.