Seukeran should be in the Cabinet
THE EDITOR: The addition of a fourth Minister of Finance and newest member of the Cabinet may have managed to escape fire and brimstone from an uncoordinated and floundering Parliamentary Opposition, but while many have constantly been chipping away at the weaknesses of the UNC, not a single journalist or political commentator has questioned why Trade Minister, Diane Seukeran was passed over for a second time.
Early in the term of the PNM after the last general election, Mr Manning justified his refusal to appoint Fitzgerald Hinds as a Cabinet Minister on account of the latter not being ready to handle such responsibility, he lacked the needed experience. Yet, we saw the appointment of far less experienced politicians like Rennie Dumas, Howard Chin Lee and Christine Kangaloo. Now, with the appointment of Sahadeo to a highly strategic posting at the Finance Ministry, not a single person has questioned why Seukeran has not yet been appointed to the Cabinet and assume a real leadership role in her Ministry.
Seukeran not only managed to win a very hard marginal seat for the PNM, but she has also worked for many years in the corporate sector and ran three uninterrupted terms as President of the influential and powerful South Trinidad Chamber of Industry and Commerce. More than that, Seukeran has proven herself as a true activist in city development and social progress. Her commitment and integrity are unquestionable and her ability to make a meaningful contribution to the Government, one that is seeing a drastic fall in popularity, is being ignored by a Prime Minister intent on placing himself in a position where the public is growing in distrust for his judgment.
It is not that I am questioning Sahadeo’s integrity, competence or commitment. I do not know the woman, though from all indications she seems up to the task. What I am doing rather, is questioning why the Prime Minister would look beyond existing expertise yet again. I am no supporter of the PNM. In fact, I am no supporter of any party. But one must be able to ‘give Jack his jacket’. And in my own view, Diane Seukeran’s expertise is being wasted by the Prime Minister’s unwillingness to make her a part of the highest policy and decision making body in the country.
Roger D Ramcharitar
Port-of-Spain
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"Seukeran should be in the Cabinet"