Camille: No rift in PNM over Hinds

NEW Planning and Development Minister, Camille Robinson-Regis, yesterday dismissed suggestions of a rift within the ruling People’s National Movement over Laventille East/Morvant MP Fitzgerald Hinds being bypassed for a ministerial portfolio in last week’s Cabinet reshuffle.

In a newspaper article on Monday, Hinds expressed disappointment that neither he nor Laventille West MP Eulalie James was given a substantive ministerial post. Speaking with reporters at the opening of a United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) conference at the Crowne Plaza yesterday, Robinson-Regis stated: “I do not decide on Ministers and I do not think there will be any dissension in the party over that.” Following the swearing in of new Attorney-General John Jeremie and new junior ministers Satish Ramroop and Anthony Roberts at President’s House on Monday, Prime Minister Patrick Manning said Hinds was not given a ministerial position because he (Manning) had no means of assessing Hinds’ capability. Manning said if Hinds had accepted the junior portfolio offered to him following the October 2002 general elections, he (Manning) would have had a basis upon which to assess his performance.

The Prime Minister also stressed that Cabinet Ministers were not selected on the basis of geography.  Asked how she was faring on her second day as Planning Minister, Robinson-Regis said: “Fortunately, being a member of the Cabinet, I am generally aware of the policies but it will take some time to settle down. I have a lot of reading to do to come up to speed because this is the portfolio that is overseeing the implementation of Vision 2020.” She admitted that despite being sad to leave her former post as Legal Affairs Minister, “I enjoy being a member of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. So whatever portfolio I am placed in I will enjoy it. I think all Ministries are very important,” Robinson-Regis added.