Minister Khan clears desk, bids farewell

Khan spent more than three hours tying up loose ends and later emerged from the building around midday and told members of the media who were waiting outside his office to interview him that he will still maintain an active role as chairman of the PNM.

The smiling Khan said that he will be offering his services to the next Minister of Works, to assist and advice him or her on the existing projects being undertaken.

Apart from that, Khan said he wanted to spend the next few weeks relaxing, having quality time with his family and attending to the needs of his Ortoire/Mayaro constituency. The former minister said the last three years were "very hectic" for him, and he was looking forward to this break.

He maintained his innocence in the allegations made against him by Dansam Dhansook and added that once he is cleared of any wrongdoing, he will offer himself to Prime Minister Patrick Manning to serve again in whatever capacity the Prime Minister sees fit. Khan announced his resignation on Sunday and yesterday, his ministerial appointment was officially revoked by President George Maxwell Richards, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister.

Khan was scheduled to speak with Manning at the third in the series of "Breakfast with the Prime Minister" meetings today at the Hilton Trinidad scheduled to begin at 7.30 am. His place will now be taken by Science, Technology and Tertiary Education Minister Colm Imbert, who served as Works and Transport Minister from 1991 to 1995.

Yesterday, sources claimed that the choice for Khan’s successor had been narrowed down to two senior Cabinet ministers, with Imbert being one of the two. Sources also alleged that Imbert had declined to be considered for the post. However, Imbert told Newsday: "No one has spoken to me about this matter. I honestly don’t know anything about it." Imbert said he had no idea if Khan’s successor had been chosen. Incumbent National Security Minister Martin Joseph is reportedly being considered to replace Khan with Manning himself, reportedly assuming control of the National Security portfolio. Public Administration Minister Dr Lenny Saith and Health Minister John Rahael have also reportedly been considered to replace Khan.

Meanwhile, Government officials said Manning has not decided on a replacement for Khan as yet and may not do so within the next 24 hours since he is chairing a Caricom national security ministers’ meeting at the Hilton Trinidad (Manning is lead PM within Caricom for security matters). However, other sources are not ruling out an announcement being made as early as today.

Prime Minister Patrick Manning said yesterday that changes to Cabinet will be announced in due course. He reiterated that everything will be made public, and joked about the speculation in the media over who will replace who.

Cabinet sources told Newsday that a Cabinet reshuffle is decided by the Prime Minister alone. In the past, prime ministers never sought advice from anyone on changes in the Cabinet.

The affected ministers only knew of the ministerial changes a few minutes before they were made public. Meanwhile, there has been no word as to whether Energy Minister Eric Williams has changed his mind and decided to resign from the Cabinet, in light of allegations made against him by Dhansook.

On Sunday, Williams said he was not resigning and stood by his denial of the allegations in Parliament. Efforts to contact Williams were unsuccessful, but officials at the Ministry of Energy said they have no information that he would be replaced or of the reported Cabinet reshuffle being considered by Manning.

A source claimed that Junior Finance Minister Conrad Enill may be considered to replace Williams. Former Labour Minister Larry Achong is also being touted as a replacement.