Last night we told you about PM Briceno's Cabinet re-alignment. We can scarcely call it a shuffle since all the major money ministries remained intact.

Most consequentially, Andre Perez was brought back from his leave of absence and restored to the Ministry of Blue Economy. At the same time, the Prime Minister brought in all the so-called back benchers and rewarded them with promotions to Ministers of State - which amounts to a chunky pay raise of two thousand dollars a month, and, of course, a ministerial ride and fuel allowance from their new ministries. They were all proudly sworn in today.

And if it looks like the use of the executive branch to award political plums - be not deceived - that's just what it is! Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa made that plain today:

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"As you know, the decision for any sort of Cabinet reshuffle lies strictly within the purview of the prime minister and that decision is ultimately his and so I see from the release issued that reference was made to the overwhelming mandate received by the People's United Party in the most recent town council elections and so that seems to have been the impetus to enable these now ministers of state to greater work within their constituencies."

Courtney Menzies:
"The criticism is that they were elevated so that they could eat, we know the that the salary that comes along with, as opposed to just being an area representative, to now being a minister of state as well."

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"I would not categorize it or classify it as that, I would say that it is certainly testament to all the work that they have been doing as area representative within their respective constituencies."