Joe Gilbert stands firm

User Rating:  / 0

Details

Parent Category: Oct 2011

Category: Week ending Oct 08th, 2011

Hits: 403

Member of Parliament (MP) for St. Patrick’s West, Joseph Gilbert has given his constituents the commitment that he will continue to serve as a Government Minister in the Tillman Thomas Government.

  Gilbert was the only elected MP included in a mini cabinet reshuffle of the government that was announced by Prime Minister Thomas last Friday.

  Gilbert who served as Minister of Works, Physical Development and Public Utilities since the formation of the Government of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Government in July 2008 is now reassigned to the Ministry of the Environment, Foreign Trade and Export Development which political pundits view as being a major casualty.

  Since the announcement word on the ground was that Gilbert would follow in the footsteps of Michael Church who previously served in that position before being demoted last year and subsequently resigning from the government last November.

  However, at a specially convened meeting of the NDC Constituency Branch of St. Patrick’s West on Sunday Gilbert made it clear that he would accept his new assignment.

  Chairman of the Constituency Branch Elphreg Philip told The New Today Newspaper that in keeping with the democratic process, the St. Patrick’s West MP felt that it was his responsibility to meet with the constituency where he announced that he will continue to remain as a cabinet minister.

  “Basically he gave the constituency the assurance that he would not resign, he would remain to serve them. He looked at the whole bigger picture to put Grenada first and the whole question of working to make sure that we win the next (General) Elections and that we don’t allow the NNP (New National Party) to come back into Office,” he said.

  General Elections are constitutionally due in 2013.

  According to Philip, there was mixed reactions from members about the ministerial change that takes effect today, Friday (October 7).

  He said those who were emotional about the change felt that it was a good move on the part of the Prime Minister.

  The NDC St. Patrick’s West Chairman said they were upset that Prime Minister Thomas took the decision to remove a professional who is a qualified engineer whom they felt is the right person to manage the Ministry of Works.

  He spoke of members comparing Gilbert to Sen. Dennoth Modeste who is a diplomat and now given the responsibility as the new minister.

  “They expressed themselves… that they definitely not in agreement with the ministerial change,” he said.

  Philip said although the general consensus of the Constituency Branch not being happy with the reassigned portfolio of their MP, there were others who advised Gilbert not to resign.

  He said members of the constituency reminded him that during the 2008 campaign for General Elections when he was canvassing for their support, he did not ask for them to support him to become Minister of Works.

  “You asked us to support you to be the Parliamentary Representative for St. Patrick’s West,” he quoted members as saying.

  The St. Patrick’s West Chairman said those members felt that in whatever capacity Gilbert is asked to serve he should just do it to the best of his ability.

• < Prev
• Next >