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Dear Sir:

The Searchlight newspaper front page item in its January 31 edition did not materialise but it is on track.

After all, prime ministers the world over refuse to be pre-empted in these matters. But as sure as the sun rises over Georgetown, a Cabinet reshuffle is in the making... and coming sooner rather than later.

When Gomery Daniel made his foolish remarks at the Sandy Bay public meeting of the ULP and mishandled the pesticide file in his ministry of agriculture, this writer called for a Cabinet shuffle.

Recently in another piece, I also noted that Minister Charles was not performing in the newly created Ministry of National Reconciliation.

From the PM's response to a journalist at a press conference today (January 31), I am now more than ever convinced that a Cabinet shuffle is at the top of the prime minister’s immediate agenda.

Come on, Mr Prime Minister, stop delaying the inevitable. Do the right thing now. The sky will not fall in and your eight to seven majority will remain fully intact. Do it in the interest of good governance. Do it for SVG. Do it for your political and professional legacy.

Minister Gomery made three serious blunders in recent months. The prime minister, quite publicly, supported his nonsense on two occasions. On the last occasion, De Comrade said, “The Master spoke and his servant listened.” Let’s hope the “Master speaks” [very soon] about a Cabinet shuffle.

To date, the prime minister has apologised on at least four occasions for Daniel’s insensitive remarks made in Parliament two weeks ago. Dat good, Comrade.

Now Prime Minister Gonsalves must do that Cabinet shuffle to rightly transfer Gomery out of the Ministry of Agriculture -- a department in which he has served our nation well for about four decades.

Minister Charles is not suited for the important Ministry of National Reconciliation. This department needs a pro-active minister and department. Thus far, Minister Charles has disappointed many, including this writer, who initially called for the creation of the ministry and actually suggested Maxwell Charles or Girlyn Miguel for the job.

Also worrying to some of us -- Vincentians at home and in the Diaspora -- is the prime minister’s penchant for rewarding political operatives who should really be disciplined. At the risk of hearing accusations of being personal, let me opine that Hans King, Sehon Marshall and to a lesser extent Minister Saboto Caesar, should have been disciplined for their recent actions. Instead, Marshall seems to be at the receiving end of political goodies from the prime minister on a daily basis. And King now seems more entrenched in his position as press secretary.

The prime minister ought to recall that he -- and by extension the nation -- faced serious contradiction from Marshall on the Star Radio show, Morning Scoop -- the morning after he (prime minister) delivered a parliamentary statement on cocoa. And King publicly stated, on more than one occasions, that he “contemplated” committing murder for remarks made of him by an NDP operative.

In Caesar’s case, his serious breach of House rules by obstructing the Honourable Speaker when making a ruling seems to have gone unnoticed by Parliament and the public.

An immediate cabinet shuffle would not only make the prime minister more responsive and responsible, it will send a strong message to political operatives who speak out of turn.

Jus do um, Comrade!

Wade Kojo Williams, Sr.
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Reads: 2811


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Alban Niles:
It beats me how we can live abroad and have the nerve to tell the Prime Minister how to run SVG. At least move back home first and then truly become a part of the Nation. I wonder if our writer can guarantee that a Cabinet shuffle will not result in a Mitchell-like walk across the floor?

Simon Anderson:
WADE, if this cabinet re-shuffle was in your hands, how would you rearrange the cabinet?

If you were Prime Minister, and you were calling the shots, how would you decide?

simon Anderson:

Wade, I read your letter above and value your opinion.

I am not asking you what the Prime Minister will do.

My question is, how in your opinion do you think the cabinet posts should be re-shuffled, had you been in a position to do so.

Wade Kojo Williams Sr:
@ Simon Anderson:

Are you responding to a commentary you have not read?

Wade Kojo Williams Sr:

@ Simon Anderson:

LIFTED FROM MY FACEBOOK PAGE

https://www.facebook.com/wadekojo.williamssr

"Don't expect this to be anything more than a minor Cabinet shuffle. All of the Ministers seem to be performing well in their respective Ministries. However, Daniel dropping the ball on the pesticide/oil order at a time when the banana industry and by extension agriculture is so fragile, is something the Prime Minister can't continue to turn a blind eye to. Daniel's insensitive public remarks didn't help matters.

With respect to Maxwell Charles, he is a decent gentle man of God. But too much hinges on political reconciliation of the reds and yellows. National unity and national development are at stake here. We need a pro-active Minister at this stage.

My feeling is that the Comrade will release himself of one of his responsibilities and take on the National Reconciliation job. He has already shown significant leadership in this regard.

Tourism is vital to the our economy but so is agriculture. With Glen Beache as CER at Tourism Vincentians have the benefit of having two ministers in the Tourism Ministry. Agriculture is a Senior Cabinet position. The man (Saboto Caesar) who is expected to become Prime Minister when Comrade retires in the latter part of 2018 or early in 2019 to allow him time to get his feet wet before the 2020 elections, should be handed the senior Agriculture Ministry. Maxwell Charles can fit nicely into the Tourism Ministry.

I can't see this shuffle going beyond this. The only other move may be to bring Elvis Charles in as a Junior Minister, perhaps in the Prime Minister's Office.

King Dotish and his half-idiots may scream Murder!!! Advantage!!! but both the Prime Minister and Stevenson's can be relieved of a little of their portfolios.

Time will tell."

Simon Anderson:

WADE, I am not necessarily advocating this, but how about putting Dr Dougie Slater back at the health Ministry? Maxwell Charles has foreign service experience and could become Minister of Foreign Affairs.

If the PM takes National Reconciliation, would he give up some other portfolio? I agree that the PM is idealLy suited for reconciliation...but here is the problem. Too large a segment of the population would simply turn a deaf ear to him, his initiatives and his functioning.

They do not care. Their only mantra is "ah hate de Comrade." Ask them WHY, and they have no clue.

Surely, a prophet has no honour in his own country!