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First, to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture, Patrick Faber. He's been vouching the president he appointed for weeks - but that didn't seem to swing Cabinet - which still voted to suspend her. Today we asked Faber why she hadn't been placed on administrative leave :...

Jules Vasquez - Reporter
"What is the situation with the president of NICH Sapna Budhrani, is she on suspension?"

Hon. Patrick Faber
"We are still working at it but that was the instruction from Cabinet and so, I have no intentions of not carrying out what the Cabinet has asked to do."

Jules Vasquez
"But sir, how hard is it to just say, 'okay, the cabinet has decided you are suspended, you need to go on suspension,' she was still..."

Hon. Patrick Faber
"I have just said to you that that is the case..."

Jules Vasquez
"But you said you are working on it."

Hon. Patrick Faber
"Because it is not as automatic as you think. Firstly we have to try to ensure that we engage an auditor. We have now done so, in fact, Baker Tilly Hulse, as you may have seen Mr. Hulse at the press conference, they are the auditing firm that does the external audit for NICH on the regular. So, they are looking at the last financial year and I had a conversation engaging Baker Tilly Hulse so that they will do a one week look at the internal auditor's report just to validate or not validate that report."

Jules Vasquez
"But so, you take over the cabinet tomorrow, or the government, the executive because the Prime Minister is going for his treatment. Will you then still go ahead with the directive of the Cabinet?"

Hon. Patrick Faber
"No, I am telling you that we have no intentions of doing anything contrary to that. That is the end of it."

Jules Vasquez
"So then, when will the administrative leave take effect?"

Hon. Patrick Faber
"Next week Monday."

Jules Vasquez
"So, isn't your opinion- as it is of many- that the NICH board acted in open defiance?"

Hon. Patrick Faber
"Not at all, the board has all rights to do what they did. And let me explain to you that, in fact, the decision from Cabinet came not to throw any stones or cast any aspersions on Ms. Budhrani. In fact, the reason why the Cabinet said what it said or pronounced what it pronounced was basically because we wanted to make absolutely sure, since it is out there, the media, several other entities are trying to say that there is something. Well, there is nothing to hide; let us get it out there and let's get it out of the way. So, that is what it is."

Jules Vasquez
"Okay, but now, going forward, obviously it would appear that your position in the Cabinet, I am saying that if they had...."

Hon. Patrick Faber
"Jules, I am not going to get into all of that. We need desperately to ensure that that credibility stands. You know me and of all the years that I have managed any portfolio that has been handed to me, that kind of practice has never come up under my watch and I will tell you that I still stand firmly behind Ms. Budhrani, especially given the results of that press conference where the accountant is saying that in fact the internal auditor is wrong and it is just a matter now to be for that to be proven officially by the external auditor. So, nothing has changed in my position, I continue to do my very best to govern the portfolios that have been given to me so that I am able to continue with the good record that I have, in terms of managing the finances of the portfolios that have been assigned to me."