There were two “new” leaders in Parliament yesterday.
Opposition UNC MP Dr Bhoe Tewarie was sitting at Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissesar’s right hand, acting as Opposition whip (in the absence of whip Ganga Singh). PNM Finance Minister Colm Imbert was sitting in the Prime Minister’s seat acting as PM (in the absence of his boss, Keith Rowley.)
Imbert’s countenance has been particularly benign since his additional duties. Addressing Thursday’s weekly Government media briefing, Imbert’s features had softened to a beatific expression as he related how humbled he felt for being given the opportunity to act as prime minister.
Yesterday, Imbert continued in same mode, laughing with PNM frontline colleagues. Former Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar among several PP MPs congratulating his ascension, noted, “He seems very happy...”
“He’s smiling,” added PP’s Tim Gopeesingh.
Following which pleasantries, the Opposition bombarded Imbert and other Government Ministers with a barrage of questions in the Parliamentary agenda segment regarding queries. And the Government didn’t shirk in slapping the PP with mismanagement accusations, in providing the answers.
At Thursday’s briefing, Imbert did all-round duty including attempting to defuse emotions on the death of Carenage fisherman Brian Smith. News from his own finance portfolio—that low oil prices may delay Government’s Development programme—has however, sparked some concerns.
The ripple effect from this via the construction and contractors’ industry could see the economy marking time, if not further contracting depending on length of the delay. This, at a time when the diversification thrust requires turbo boost to meet challenges of the hiccuping energy sector.
Hopefully Rowley will return bearing encouragement on that front following meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday with BP, BG and Shell jefes in London, and whatever arises from that will be factored into Government’s mid-year review.
Redirection may also extend in other areas. PNM senator Franklin Khan on Tuesday noted growing underemployment (and necessary action on that). What changes and resultant cost cutting arising from the work of the team examining the health sector to rationalise it (including examining issues of doctors in the public sector working in the private sector) remains to unfold with its January report.
Another team is examining contract work in the public sector where there are 7,000 such jobs. And a government committee is being formed to formulate policy on government buildings and state agency accommodation issues including use of the Government campus. The Customs Division has already moved into one new location and the Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain, location it occupied for years, is empty.
On another front, Government is likely awaiting Rowley’s return to decide how to deal with returning T&T-born Isis fighters amid global terrorist attacks and local concerns.
Apart from 89 T&T people known to have gone to the Middle East, six T&T nationals remain detained in two countries. Five are in Venezuela on alleged terrorism charges. Also, T&T-born, Saudi Arabia-based, Islamic studies student Tariq S Mohammed, has been detained in Saudi Arabia since August.
National Security Minister Edmund Dillon said yesterday he’s being held for questioning and not been charged with anything. His aunt Nafeesa Mohammed said he and his family returned home in May and he was interviewed by Special Branch. On returning to SA, he was detained.
The Opposition in Parliament yesterday contended with its own issues, not the least of which was Minister Stuart Young’s expose on the NGC/SIS matter. UNC leadership hopeful Roodal Moonilal, who showed up in House for the first time since giving up the Opposition whip position, arrived late and after a minute found his new seat, three away from the end of the front row.
While leadership incumbent Persad-Bissessar appeared relaxed, the usually loquacious Moonilal was uncharacteristically pensive despite being “muched up” by colleagues David Lee and Vidya Guyadeen-Gopeesingh.
The UNC’s campaign has managed to date to produce a less inflammatory profile than expected which some members feel would aid post-election rebranding. The coming final week of campaigning before next Saturday’s election will determine if postures and pronouncements, will aid or assassinate participants’ political future and in what shape the UNC emerges to handle national duties and Government’s challenges.
