Gilbert defends his stewardship

Gilbert defends his stewardship

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Details: Parent Category: Oct 2011; Category: Week ending Oct 15th, 2011; Hits: 596

Former Minister of Works in the Tillman Thomas-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) Government, Joseph Gilbert has sought to project his achievements in his former ministry during the last three years.

Gilbert who now serves as the Minister of The Environment, Foreign Trade and Export Development following a mini-cabinet reshuffle that took effect last week has been heavily criticised for being responsible for a number of projects not getting started.

Speaking at the sod-turning ceremony for the St. George’s Market Square Development Project last week Tuesday at his last public function in his capacity as Minister of Works, the senior government minister said that despite all of the criticisms, the Ministry of Works has been working hard.

He pointed to the commencement of work to complete the stalled St. George’s market project as one of the many fruits of the labour of his former ministry.

Minister Gilbert also spoke of several of the stalled projects now coming on stream.

“We are happy too that work on the Grenville Market Square Development Project has commenced,” he said.

That particular project has four components including the construction of an abattoir at Mirabeau, the redevelopment of the Grenville Market, construction of a bus terminus, and work to address the flooding problem in the Town of Grenville.

Minister Gilbert used last Tuesday’s ceremony to publicly thank the staff of the Ministry of Works for their support over the past three years.

“I wish the ministry well and I urge them to continue to play their part in the development of this lovely country of ours,” he said.

Former diplomat, Senator Dennoth Modeste has replaced Gilbert as the new Minister of Works.

According to Minister Gilbert who allegedly threatened to resign from government when informed of his transfer from the Works ministry by Prime Minister, Tillman Thomas, his reassignment could only mean that bigger things are in store for him.

He stated that there is a notion that Ministers of Government should be moved around in order for them to gain experience in the operation of different ministries.

Gilbert said it is also believed that the reshuffling of ministers is seen as the Prime Minister’s way of ensuring that there is competent succession to “the throne.”

“If that is true, I consider myself one of the chosen few that the Prime Minister is grooming to succeed him, but with just one shuffle in three years I know that I’m running a distant fourth. Ahead of me are comrades like Peter David, Glynis Roberts, Arley Gill,” he remarked.

The trio along with Gilbert are considered to be part of a “rebel group” within the Cabinet that often disagrees with Prime Minister Thomas.

Gilbert spoke of Grenada belonging to everyone, and called on Grenadians to work together to build the country and build a future for the children.

Minister David who is the Parliamentary Representative for the Town of St. George, and holds the portfolio of Tourism spoke of Gilbert being special to his constituency.

According to David, he was mandated by all the Parliamentary Representatives on the Government Side to thank Gilbert for his stewardship in the Ministry of Works.

“Minister Gilbert, on behalf of all of the people of the Town of St. George, on behalf of all of the MP’s (Members of Parliament), on behalf of everyone who have had the opportunity to work with you as Minister for Works, I want to say thank you, and thank you for the special friendship in the Town,” he said.

David told his close ally, now that he is the Minister of The Environment that a lot of work on the environment is needed in his urban constituency.