Joseph Gilbert removed from Works

Joseph Gilbert removed from Works

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Details: Parent Category: Oct 2011; Category: Week ending Oct 08th, 2011; Hits: 433

At a time when a number of stalled projects are now coming on stream, Prime Minister Tillman Thomas has removed his long-standing Minister of Works Joseph Gilbert and has placed him in another ministry.

The mini-cabinet reshuffle that was announced by Prime Minister Tillman Thomas last week Friday takes effect today, Friday (October 7).

In a national address that lasted just about seven minutes Prime Minister Thomas said he is determined that a few ministerial portfolio adjustments would help his three-year old government to improve its effectiveness as they embark upon a National Development Agenda.

Prime Minister Thomas has recreated the Ministry of the Environment, Foreign Trade and Export Development as a separate ministry, with Ministerial responsibility being assigned to Gilbert.

That ministry was previously headed by Michael Church up until last November when he was demoted as a Cabinet Minister.

During the demotion of Church who subsequently resigned from the government following another mini-cabinet reshuffle, the Ministry of the Environment was placed with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Prime Minister Thomas said the recreation of the Ministry of Environment signifies his government’s desire to have the important responsibilities of that portfolio in experienced and capable hands.

“Accordingly, we are sending a strong message to both the national and international communities that Grenada is giving serious attention to its development challenges through the appropriate public policy responses. Our record of achievements in these areas must be significantly improved to the benefit of the economy and all our citizens. Much is therefore expected of Minister Gilbert in his new assignment,” he said.

However, political pundits believe removing Gilbert from the Ministry of Works, Physical Development and Public Utilities, and giving full ministerial responsibility to Sen. Dennoth Modeste is a political move on the part of Prime Minister Thomas.

Sen. Modeste who is a resident of St. Mark’s is tipped to be the front-runner to contest the St. Mark’s Constituency in the next General Elections for the ruling National Democratic Congress.

The seat is currently held by Clarice Modeste of the main Opposition New National Party.

Prime Minister Thomas described Sen. Modeste, a former diplomat, as being an experienced and excellent administrator.

Junior Culture Minister, Sen. Arley Gill has been reassigned from the Prime Minister’s Ministry to the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation which is headed by Peter David.

The Prime Minister said he opted for this course of action recognizing the close synergies that exist between these two areas.

The other ministerial change involves Sen. Glen Noel.

Sen. Noel who is believed to be a close ally of Prime Minister Thomas will now assume the portfolio of Junior Minister in the Prime Minister’s Ministry with responsibility for Information and National Mobilization.

Prime Minister Thomas said in order to effectively implement government’s work program for the collective benefit of all Grenadians, they must once again seriously engage and mobilize the business community, workers, teachers, nurses and policemen, the farmers and fishermen, the Churches, youth and students, bus drivers and taxi drivers, and all those who form a part of this proud nation.

“What we are talking about here is ‘mobilisation for national development’ as distinct from narrow political concerns,” he stressed.

Prime Minister Thomas said he believes the changes would be in the best interest of his government and the country at this time.