PNM begins search for new Labour Minister

Even though Lawrence Achong has been asked to reconsider, PNM sources said yesterday that they had gone past the resignation of the Labour Minister and were considering who would replace him. The names of Fitzgerald Hinds and Dr Lenny Saith are being mentioned. Prime Minister Patrick Manning remained incommunicado yesterday. However, sources told Sunday Newsday that Achong has been asked to reconsider his decision. Political sources stated that even if Achong’s services were to be retained by the Government, he could not be returned to the Ministry of Labour, given the manner in which he handled the Atlantic LNG strike.

“While he is free to hold passionate views as a parliamentary  representative, as Minister of Labour he didn’t seem to understand that he occupied a leadership position on  this LNG matter and his mishandling of the issue means that he has forfeited the confidence of another important constituency — the employer/business class — which as a Minister of Labour he needs to have,” the source stated.  The source added that while the Atlantic facility is located in the Point Fortin constituency, the labour force was a Trinidad and Tobago labour force. Sources noted yesterday that not since Errol Mahabir had there been a Labour Minister who attracted so much attention and seemed so strong. In the recent past, there were personalities such as Kenneth Collis and  Harry Partap who were weak by comparison. The key question now is who will fill the vacancy created by Achong’s resignation. 

There is a strong view that it would be an error to put a senator in the ministry and that it is advisable to replace Achong, who is an elected member, with another elected member. In this regard, sources think that this is an excellent opportunity for bringing in Laventille East/Morvant MP, Fitzgerald Hinds into the Government, while others mention Senator Lenny Saith. One minister, who did not want his name mentioned said that Achong misunderstood the Cabinet position on the question of wages for workers in the energy construction sector. “It is not that we are saying that workers shouldn’t get more but it has to be on the basis of the norms of the industry,” the minister stated. Cabinet was not saying that there should not be a wage differential, but it should not be legislated. It should be negotiated, he said. Legislations for such a wage differential would have repercussions throughout the entire economy. He hoped Achong would reflect on this and return to the Cabinet.