The political rumor mill is rife with the intrigue of an imminent Cabinet shuffle. And the most compelling story is that Deputy Prime Minister John Briceno, the number two man in the country, will be replaced by PUP co-deputy Godfrey Smith. Today, at a Cabinet press briefing, Smith answered the question: does he want to be Said Musa's number 2 man.
Godfrey Smith, PUP Co-Deputy Leader
"The statement that I have been lobbying ever since the convention for the post of Deputy Prime Minister is completely untrue. I have not been lobbying (and) neither have I caused anybody to lobby on my behalf. I believe that the focus at this time should not be on getting any positions. I have no interests in acquiring the position of Deputy Prime Minister. I believe that all of us in Cabinet, and all supporters of our government, our attentions and energies should be directed toward dealing with the challenges we face as a government, and from a political standpoint strengthening our party and that is how I am deploying my energy.
As you are aware, there are also a lot of allegations about Cabinet reshuffle. As you all know that is the prerogative of the Prime Minister. I shouldn't even comment on that, except to say that what I read in the paper and see on the news is rank speculation. I don't know what the basis for that is. Perhaps it is tied to the commonly known fact that Mr. Shoman has indicated that he will no longer remain in government. That in itself is not new. From the moment he entered last year, he made it known it was for a very limited duration and that he wanted to get on to other things that interested him."
Adele Ramos, AMANDALA Newspaper
"So should you be offered the position of Deputy Prime Minister would you take it?"
Godfrey Smith,
"I don't believe that I wish to speculate any further on this. I have said that I am not interested in acquiring any position of Deputy Prime Minister. I don't think its right to speculate on this. I can't speculate any further on a matter that is wholly within the prerogative of the Prime Minister."
And while Smith deflected any speculation about the deputy post, as he noted one portfolio in transition is Assad Shoman's now relinquished Ministry of National Development. While that's up for grabs, there are also persistent reports that while Briceno may hold on as deputy, his only true northern ally, Minister of Housing Servulo Baeza is on the bubble and is being contemplated as a possible casualty of Cabinet downsizing, served up, no doubt, with just a portion of post G-7 bite.
