Guardian ( Trinidad and Tobago )
02 September 2023 ( Page 5 )
Analysts anticipate Cabinet reshuffle before 2025 GE
By Akash Samaroo
... Call for Hinds and Sinanan’s
removal
Some political analysts believe the rumours of
another Cabinet reshuffle could become a reality
but they feel Minister Fitzgerald Hinds could be
left untouched by Prime Minister Dr Keith
Rowley.
News of a reshuffle involving reconfigurations in
the Ministries of National Security, Health and
Energy spread quickly on social media platforms
on Wednesday before People’s National
Movement officials declared it to be fake news.
But Dr Bishnu Ragoonath yesterday told Guardian
Media he would not be surprised if PM Rowley
plans to make a strategic realignment of his
Cabinet given the party’s performance in the
recent Local Government Elections.
“They know for a fact that as they enter the last
two years of their regime, that they will have to
do things a lot differently if they are to attract the
population to vote for them. And based on the
numbers at the (LGE) polls, if they could not have
excited the people then, yes, general elections
you have a lot more people voting but chances are
the UNC will also have more people voting for
them. So yes, the Government has to find a
mechanism to market itself better and to some
extent, a cabinet reshuffle could very well
facilitate that,” Ragoonath posited.
However, Dr Ragoonath said it would be
foolhardy to attempt to predict what changes
Rowley will make.
“I would not dare try to predict Keith Rowley,
because he will do things simply on how he wants
to do it. And in fact, people who we think should
really be chopped, he’s going to protect them,”
the analyst said.
One of those people, he said, is National Security
Minister Hinds.
“Clearly, notwithstanding the boast yesterday
(Independence Day), I think crime is still an issue
and we need to get a Minister of National Security
who people will have greater regard and respect
for,” Ragoonath said.
He believe, however, that Rowley will keep Hinds
in the position either out of favour or fear.
“I highly doubt that Keith Rowley will bow to
public pressure and change Hinds at this point in
time.
You know there’s a saying you must keep your
enemies closer than your friends? Well perhaps
this is one, probable, I am not saying that it is. I
don’t know whether he sees Hinds as a threat
one way or the other but I think the population
has lost confidence in Hinds but the Prime
Minister has full confidence,” Ragoonath added.
Dr Indera Rampersad is of a similar view. She too
believes a reshuffle is on the cards due to the
Government’s performance at the LGE polls.
“You now have Opposition forces, and I’m not
just saying UNC but opposition forces like the
NTA and PEP combined got 60,000 more votes
than the PNM and the Opposition made inroads
in two PNM strongholds, so I think it was a
phenomenal shake-up for the Government, and
they recognise that it’s mid-term and
governments are unpopular in midterms and it
does not augur well for the Government for
general elections 2025 irrespective of the
differences in dynamics,” Rampersad said.
She added, “I think it (a cabinet reshuffle) is long
overdue because we are noticing that several of
the Ministers in several of the ministries are not
performing up to par.
And I will pinpoint here the Minister of National
Security and the escalating crime in spite of what
the Police Commissioner has said.
I don’t think anyone believes that the crime is
receding. The statistics are very clear of the
heinous nature of crime hitting people like a
dagger.”
The online claims suggested that Stuart Young
would return as National Security Minister, but
Rampersad believes this will be a poor decision.
“I don’t know if he can do it either, I don’t know
if there is anyone in there who is capable of
dealing with this issue the way it should be dealt
with. If I had a pick, I would have chosen Gary
Griffith, but he is not in Government,”
Rampersad said.
Another analyst, Dr Shane Mohammed,
identified four ministries that may need a change
of leadership.
“The first one is the Minister of National
Security. I think we need a minister who is
relatable to the ground and relatable to the
people and who understands their issues from a
compassionate, empathetic and proactive.
Someone who has a policy and can liaise with the
Police Commissioner for a robust approach to
crime fighting,” Mohammed said.
The other ministry Mohammed identified for a
change is the Ministry of Energy and Energy
Resources, where Young is the minister.
“Stuart Young says that he is an expert in
international negotiations.
However, Trinidad and Tobago right now, as it
pertains to energy affairs, is lagging in the
region, Guyana is far surpassing us and we have
lost our reputation as an energy giant,”
Mohammed posited.
Mohammed suggested Brian Manning as Young’s
replacement.
Additionally, Mohammed believes Richie
Sookhai, the new Minister in the Ministry of
Works and Transport, is better suited to work
alongside Paula Gopee-Scoon in the Trade
Ministry.
He criticised Sookhai’s senior minister, Rohan
Sinanan, for being reactive in his strategy and
neglecting rural areas.
PICTURE ABRAHAM DIAZ-
National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds