Dominica Freedom Party questions PM's Cabinet reshuffle decision

ROSEAU, Dominica: Leader of the Dominica Freedom Party (DFP), Judith Pestaina, has expressed concern with regard to the dismissal of Ambrose George from the Labour Party’s cabinet. The position of Minister of Pubic Works and Infrastructural Development previously held by George, is now passed on to Rayburn Blackmoore, following a Cabinet reshuffle announced by Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit on national radio on November 18, 2008.

During a recent press conference, the DFP leader said that her party is seeking to get answers to a number of unanswered questions that led to the Prime Minister’s prompt decision. Questions posed by the DFP leader include:

• ‘Is he blaming the entire government for fiscal imprudence and lack of governance, thereby necessitating a reshuffling of Cabinet?’
  
  
• ‘Was Ambrose dismissed as minister because he was tired, stale or tainted or is the PM accusing his entire Cabinet of being tired, stale or tainted, which is why he had to bring Sonia Williams into Cabinet?’
  
  
• ‘Will the re-positioning of ministers and what the PM calls ‘adjustment and the embrace of new talent into the parliament’ make his government more transparent and accountable?’
  
  
• ‘Will relieving Ambrose of his ministerial duties make his government more transparent and accountable?’

The Dominica Freedom Party is also questioning whether Ambrose George is transparent and accountable in the positions that he still holds as Member of Parliament and Parliamentary Representative for Roseau South as well as Deputy Political Leader of the Labour Party.

“Until such time, we in the Dominica Freedom Party remain unconvinced that the matter has been fully addressed and government is far from being transparent and accountable,” Pestaina said.

Other changes in the Cabinet announced by the prime minister is the inclusion of one new minister, Senator Sonia Williams, who now holds the position of Minister of Education, Human Resource Development, Sports and Youth Affairs – a position previously held by Vince Henderson, who is now responsible for Foreign Affairs, Immigration and Labour.