Did Hinds get nod to be a Minister?

Is Laventille East/Morvant MP Fitzgerald Hinds to be appointed a Minister of Government? The Opposition claimed so during Friday’s sitting of the House of Representatives, but since then Sunday Newday has been unable to confirm this. During the session after the tea-break, Prime Minister Patrick Manning and Hinds met in the corner of the parliamentary chamber where they discussed a matter for a few minutes. Opposition MP for Fyzabad, Chandresh Sharma, speaking in debate on the Agricultural Census Order, then casually dropped a bombshell on the House. Observing Manning talking to Hinds, Sharma said: “My friend may be offered my congratulations.” 

Earlier Opposition MP for Caroni Central, Ganga Singh, had been in a good-natured exchange with Hinds over the rumoured appointment. Singh said: “I see Laventille East/Morvant you are still waiting? Still waiting in the wings?”. Hinds grinned broadly and gave a friendly nod three times as if to say “Yes, yes, yes.” Later in the sitting Sunday Newsday sent a note to Hinds to talk to him, but he was unable to avail himself to us before we left the chamber. Sunday Newsday approached Hinds yesterday but he was giving nothing away. When Sunday Newsday phoned and speculatively offered our congratulations to Hinds, he refused to be drawn and stayed silent. When we again told him we were calling to see if congratulations were in order, he still remained speechless. He neither confirmed nor denied our suggestion.

When Sunday Newsday pressed him yet again, Hinds said he could not talk as he had a client present. Contacted by phone after Friday’s sitting, Leader of Government Business in the House, Ken Valley, said he was unable to shed light on the possible appointment, saying Cabinet posts were alloted by the Prime Minister. At the start of the Manning Government, Hinds had refused to accept a junior minister position, but after the recent resignation of Larry Achong as Minister of Labour, approaches had been made to Hinds to come on board.