Ganga Singh acts as AG

The appointment, made by President George Maxwell-Richards upon the advice of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, took effect from last Friday.

The appointment is, “with effect from the morning of July 20, and continuing during the absence from Trinidad and Tobago of the said Senator Anand Ramlogan, in addition to the discharge of his normal duties”, according to an advisory published yesterday.

Singh, a former UNC Minister of Public Utilities and Minister of Legal Affairs was only last month made a minister in the People’s Partnership Government Cabinet following a controversial appointment as WASA’s chief executive officer, months prior.

Singh was made WASA CEO despite objections that the post was not advertised and that he once acted as line minister over WASA. The former Minister of Public Utilities Emmanual George, who up until last month had oversight of WASA, was last month moved to the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure.

Singh is expected to this morning attend a meeting of a Cabinet sub-committee with Chief Justice Ivor Archie at the Chief Justice’s chambers at Knox Street, Port-of-Spain.

The GIS advisory did not say when Ramlogan would return to Trinidad and when he resumes duties as Attorney General.

The GIS also announced yesterday that Minister of National Security Jack Warner will today take on the additional post of Acting Minister of Sport, in addition to his normal duties.

This acting appointment was signed-off by President George Maxwell Richards last Thursday. Warner is expected to act in the post, “and continuing during the absence from Trinidad and Tobago of the said Anil Roberts MP, in addition to the discharge of his normal duties.”

Roberts is expected to be in London this week where the Olympic Games are due to open on Friday. The GIS did not say how long Roberts will be out of the country.

Warner is a former FIFA vice-president but has been dogged by allegations of bribery from his time in the world football governing body. The allegations returned last week in a court ruling which found he was “most likely” to have not conformed with the highest ethical standards in relation to allegations that he bribed officials to back Mohammed Bin Hammam in the 2011 FIFA presidential elections.

With the Parliament on a break until after August, eight ministers have been out of the country.

According to the GIS, the President last week Wednesday appointed Minister of Tourism Stephen Cadiz to act for Minister of Energy Kevin Ramnarine who was due to return from a trip to Panama over the weekend. Cadiz was also appointed to act for Minister of Trade and Industry Vasant Bharath.Minister of Local Government Chandresh Sharma was appointed to act as Minister of Food Production, a post currently held by Devant Maharaj. The appointments were to take effect from last week Wednesday until the return of the ministers (dates not given).

Also approved by the President last Wednesday was an acting appointment making Minister of Justice Herbert Volney take up the portfolio of Minister of Legal Affairs Prakash Ramadhar who is in Florida. It is expected that when Ramadhar returns to the country he will, in turn, act for Volney when he leaves later this year.

Minister of Local Government Chandresh Sharma was last week appointed to act for Minister of Housing Dr Roodal Moonilal effective on Saturday and “continuing during the absence from Trinidad and Tobago of the said Dr the Honourable Roodal Moonilal, MP, in addition to the discharge of his normal duties.” Moonilal is the Government Chief Whip in the House of Representatives.

By appointment dated July 17, the President also appointed Minister of the People Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh to act as Gender Affairs Minister during the absence of Marlene Coudray who was reported to be at a conference in the Dominican Republic.