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Striking out in new directions

• Joan, Camille, beginning ambassadorial work.
• Kamla reinforces her position.
• PM blows off critics.

It might have been the monotone of UNC MP Chandresh Sharma’s delivery.

However, Prime Minister Patrick Manning seemed more interested yesterday in talking to his PNM colleagues while Sharma delivered another segment of Opposition argument in the Parliament’s food prices debate.

The first 45 minutes of Sharma’s delivery saw Manning caucusing with MPs Colm Imbert, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid and Junia Regrello.

Government’s defence came from Education Minister Esther Le Gendre who teetered on the edge of and quickly pulled herself back from the same pronunciation malfunction (which her predecessor famously failed to do) concerning “breakfasts” for students.

Following his backbencher’s lead, Manning finally sprung up (to defend Nedco).

Manning’s fortunate circumstances—jetting off to one-night dinner receptions at UWI Jamaica as he did Thursday—didn’t figure in Sharma’s criticism.

But the fleet of gleaming new black Government SUVs and luxury cars outside the Parliament yesterday may have lent weight to Sharma’s contention that Government was removed from the harsh reality of food prices.

Comments by visiting Barbados Prime Minister David Thompson on Wednesday however indicated that not only is T&T concerned about such prices, but so are other territories. Thompson expressed hope T&T could facilitate the proposed southern Caribbean ferry linking the islands and accessing food supplies.

Whether by accident or design, UNC Senator Wade Mark had—prior to Thompson’s visit—warned T&T against being “set up” by regional neighbours.

The “basket,” which Mark claimed Manning liked to take from that direction, was not readily evident Wednesday when Manning alluded to the most recent appeal: from Caribbean neighbours concerning proposed regional expansion of Caribbean Airlines services.

Manning said the politically sensitive matter would be discussed before decision-making.

Yesterday Works Minister Imbert said the discussions would take place at Caricom’s intercessional in two weeks.

Imbert said Grenada and St Lucia have appealed to T&T to expand CA’s services to assist their tourism sector, providing more choice and lower fares than Liat’s. However the proposed expansion must be discussed with Liat shareholders Barbados, Antigua and St Vincent.

Wednesday’s Barbadian visit also afforded Government the opportunity not only to initiate the Diplomatic Centre’s conferencing facilities, but also test-run security systems for next month’s visit of British royalty.

Large numbers of suited security—including from Manning’s new team—occupied vantage points throughout.

And the visit provided an opportunity for Minister in Finance Mariano Browne to catch up with Barbadian associates.

In Thompson’s previous incarnation, his law firm represented Clico’s Barbados interests, it was confirmed by the Barbadian team.

Browne was chief executive officer of Clico’s Barbados Caribbean Commercial Bank up to 2004. Subsequent issues between Browne, Clico and later RBTT, which bought CCB, have been resolved.

Buttonholed by TG during Wednesday’s agenda, Manning blew off comments from analysts grading his Government poorly for its first 100 days on the job.

(Similar dismissals ranging from disgust to indignation came from Ministers Keith Rowley, Imbert and Conrad Enill.)

Manning will keep a handle on team performance with the performance monitoring unit announced in January.

Based at his office—with units in each Ministry—the division, still being established, will track implementation of Government decisions.

Joan working, Camille

leaving for Canada

If Manning’s ministers are still settling in 100 days after starting, so too are some of their predecessors in new “lives.”

Former Minister Joan Yuille-Williams moved into her new job as a special ambassador for T&T and is also playing a dual role in reorganising the ruling party, she confirmed Thursday.

There had been queries when Yuille-Williams—long considered one of Manning’s key organisational planners—was not among appointees to the new Cabinet. Manning, noting Yuille-Williams’ age, had hinted at other plans for her.

Yuille-Williams said she received her instruments of appointment as a special envoy for T&T on December 12 and began work last month.

PNM deputy leader Yuille-Williams is settling in alongside Ambassador John Donaldson, inspector of missions. Yuille-Williams will have special assignments representing T&T in various areas, she said.

Additionally, she remains in a significant party capacity, reorganising constituencies post-election. She has already toured Fyzabad, Siparia, and St Joseph. That aspect of Yuille-Williams’ dual role is crucial considering local government elections.

Her colleague, Camille Robinson-Regis, is expected to leave for her Canadian posting at month-end, Government confirmed Wednesday.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed agreement was reached with the Canadian Government on Robinson-Regis’ posting recently and her instruments of appointment were conveyed recently.

Robinson-Regis bade farewell and thanked her PNM colleagues in a letter read at last Saturday’s General Council by PNM secretary Martin Joseph, members confirmed.

Colleagues have been bidding Robinson-Regis farewell at recent functions including a brunch by ex-FA Minister Knowlson Gift and luncheon by former High Commissioner to Canada, Arnold Piggott.

Events were also being organised by her former Arouca constituency, officials there confirmed.

Ex-minister Ken Valley—whose technology company’s Web site promises honesty and integrity as trademarks—is leaving for work in Curacao and Costa Rica.

Valley said: “I don’t want full-time employment .”

Asked if he would consider assisting Government, Valley limited reply to: “I’m available for contract assignments for private and public sector.”

Diane Seukeran is catching up with family life, “holidaying” until March, she said.

Larry Achong is in industrial relations consultancy. John Rahael is in the family business, he said.

Christine Sahadeo is involved in consultancy and real estate: “And continuing social programmes I was involved in.”

Sateish Ramroop is trying to restart his business.

Eric Williams said he was an international player: “Life doesn’t end at T&T’s shores,” he added, saying he was “just laughing.”

On possible renewed legal action against Williams—hinted by the Director of Public Prosecutions’ office following recent dismissal of his case—a DPP spokesman said the division has up to June to apply for the notes from the case, form an opinion and seek a judge’s warrant if necessary.

Nothing has been decided yet, it was indicated yesterday.

Kamla—female PM inevitable

Like PNMites, some Opposition members are also reshaping directions.

Queries arose after Monday’s UNC meeting when party leader Basdeo Panday indicated the party had enough talent to react at a moment’s notice to fill slots.

MP Vasant Bharath and Suruj Rambachan had to substitute for deputy Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who could not make it and MP Kelvin Ramnath, who was ill, Panday explained.

UNC officials said Panday also spoke about absences at Wednesday’s UNC executive meeting which Persad-Bissessar attended.

“While he didn’t call names, he said that in future if people could not attend meetings and could not give enough notice or reasons why they can’t come, it involved a matter of discipline,” one source said.

Persad-Bissessar, studying for a doctorate in law, hasn’t reduced her Parliament profile.

But post-election, a slight shift has been detected following her controversial statements at Mid Centre Mall last year when she vowed to “keep on fighting” after UNC’s Jack Warner was appointed head of the then UNC-Alliance.

On Thursday, Persad-Bissessar agreed with PNM Minister Hazel Manning—wife of the Prime minister—who said it’s time for a female Prime Minister.

“It’s developing—Argentina has a female President. Modern democracies have seen women coming into their own. Inevitably, it has to happen. The question is when,” Persad-Bissessar added.

For her part, Persad-Bissessar has been reinforcing her resume stock by adding the “blue chip” of a PhD specialising in an area for which there are few regional experts—a combined treatise on politics plus Parliament’s powers and privileges.