And coming out of today's Cabinet meeting there's the announcement of minor tweaks and changes to portfolios and Chief Executive Officers. The new listing shows that the Minister of State for Finance is Dr. Carla Barnett and her CEO is Joseph Waight. The CEO for John Saldivar's newly reconstituted Ministry of Defence is Felix Enriquez while George Lovell picks up as CEO for the Police Ministry.
Today UDP Party Whip Michael Finnegan explained why government keeps making these changes:
Hon. Michael Finnegan, Minister of Housing
"This started way back with Leader Emeritus Hon. George Price. He first started it. George Price who we all love started way back with JW MacMillan, Assad Shoman, Dickie Bradley lost twice, was made minister and I can go on and on. There is nothing wrong with any government whether it's the UDP government or otherwise utilizing the intellectual capacity of people outside parliament. There is nothing wrong with that and there is no powerful ministry more than the other one. We all have equal say in cabinet. We get the same salary."
Daniel Ortiz, 7News
"Can one not take away from this that the reason why these changes are being made is because the UDP government remains under fire?"
Hon. Michael Finnegan, Minister of Housing
"What changes?"
Daniel Ortiz, 7News
"The changes for Miss Vanessa Retreage, Dr. Carla Barnett, Godwin Hulse."
Hon. Michael Finnegan, Minister of Housing
"Godwin Hulse started out with us in cabinet. The Prime Minister is looking for talent, looking for brains, looking for people who can contribute to his cabinet. The Prime Minister is looking for most importantly, integrity. So what is wrong with that? I don't see anything at all wrong with that. The Prime Minister is looking for honesty and he is looking for integrity. I am not saying that there is not honesty or there is not integrity inside of government, but he is looking for honesty and integrity outside."
Daniel Ortiz, 7News
"Is it easier for an unelected official to remain outside the influences of elected office when holding these ministries?"
Hon. Michael Finnegan, Minister of Housing
"Life is real and politics is real. The none elected people who holds these positions know that me who runs for politics need to give my people land and need to intervene at immigration and need intervene at lands department and need to intervene at post office and need to intervene all around the public service, so that the goods and services can be delivered to the constituents that you represent."
In total there are 14 substantive ministers, and eight ministers of state accompanied by 21 CEO's.
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