President defends size of Cabinet and renaming of Ministries

• Tuesday, 26 May 2015 06:06

http://www.caribnewsdesk.com/n...naming-of-ministries

President David Granger today dismissed claims that the new APNU/AFC coalition government is a “large government,” and pointed out that there are fewer ministries than those under the previous administration.

“It is the amalgamation of the ministries that would have created concerns,” the President said. “I have not created a larger number of ministries than existed before; there are now fewer than there were before, as far as the names are concerned, I have explained that some of the changes in name were to emphasise the functions.”

Citing one example, the President pointed out that the Ministry of the Presidency always existed as it is merely the renaming of the Office of the President.

“I felt it necessary to have a Minister of State, who would continue to act authoritatively to ensure that the Cabinet decisions are implemented throughout the government service.”

Explaining the name change of the Ministry of Local Government to Ministry of communities, President Granger said, “We are not simply building houses or building roads, we are building communities where human beings live and that is why it was renamed to emphasise the human aspect of local development, local government, of regional government and of housing schemes and water supply.”

The Head of State stressed the need to see places where citizens dwell, not just a collection of buildings, but a collection of families, so that emphasis can be placed on sporting facilities, culture and other types of community life. These, and more the President said, are more often than not absent from newly developed housing schemes, across the country.

The renaming of the Ministry of Home Affairs to the Ministry of Public Security, the President said is self-explanatory. “What does Home Affairs mean? Home Affairs is an old title which is taken from the British Empire, they had foreign affairs which dealt with international matters and home affairs, but we do not have an empire, so why should we call it Home Affairs?”

Likewise the Ministry of Public Infrastructure from the Ministry of Public Works is also self-explanatory as it caters to infrastructure for public use, and will be dealing with stellings, roadways and bridges.

Meanwhile, responding to the issue of no consultations being held before the renaming of some of the ministries, President Granger said, “there is a lot of criticism, but some of it is not well informed. The Ministry of Indigenous People’s (Affairs), the Indigenous people said that they prefer to be called ‘indigenous peoples’ rather than to be called Amerindians.”

With regard to the appointments, he said, “ I had to have some consultations before the appointments were made; I could not sit down by myself and make Mr. Ramjattan a Vice President.”

Bhai Guyana moving along smoothly.

Only the losers complaining.

Jalil what world you living in? Dont you read the Guyana papers???

Which papers.

I read the Guyana Chronicle today and it comes across as very balance.  I stop buy Stabroek News now.  All the balanced news in the Guyana Chronicle.

What a breath of fresh air in Guyana as the PPP leaves.

Try reading the Stabber, less bias, Chronicle is too pro govt 

Your father Yacoob Ally, PPP Opposition MP, spent 28 years as a "loser" complaining.

Did you forget that?

No word about the infamous Ministry of Social Cohesion. Was it something to ensure that Amna had something to do?

And still no explanation for why Citizenship was taken away Public Security, and what Governance is all about.

But I do appreciate the explanation.  Pity it came after even coalition supporters became anxious.

The thing is that you used to say this when you were best buddies with Jagdeo.  We know how that turned out, so people have a right to demand answers from the coalition gov't when ever they see fit.

So is it that just WPA vex because Roopnaraine did not get a VP?  Hinds and Tacuma were complaining in SN that "senior members" of APNU were not consulted.

Many people are concerned.  Not just the WPA,

Who yuh talking bout PPP

Jagdeo is too busy sobbing into the arms of Bobby that some little girl threatened him with jail, and now prevents him from leaving Guyana to tend to his investments in FL and in India, to care about what Granger is doing.

Just two weeks ago, his lawyer Anil would have called the magistrate and threatened her with violence if she didn't mind her own business, now Jagdeo is being treated like a common criminal.