And what about those who didn’t make the Cabinet cut? 5 elected UDP representatives hold no ministry or ministry of state position. Notably excluded is veteran politician and Cayo North powerhouse Salvador Fernandez. But this morning all representatives gathered at the UDP’s Bel-China headquarters to hear the Cabinet postings, Barrow said there was no dissent. But how does it feel to be left out of the Cabinet cake cutting? We asked Nemencio Acosta who won Corozal North decisively after the PUP’s Valdemar Castillo held unto it for 40 years. He said it’s no big deal to him.
Keith Swift,
Did you get any portfolio?
Nemencio Acosta, Corozal North Area Rep.
“No I didn’t.”
Keith Swift,
Are you okay with that?
Nemencio Acosta,
“Oh yes because I wasn’t running to be a Minister. I ran to represent my people. So if I was to get a Ministry, it would have been an additional duty. But I am okay with this, I am satisfied that I will work with the people.”
Keith Swift,
You don’t think your constituents wanted someone to represent them who will sit in Cabinet?
Nemencio Acosta,
“Well yes most of the people when they elect a representative, they would like that representative to be a Minister but I don’t believe only a Minister can do things for his constituency. What you need is to make sure that you work along with your people and there are many things that could be done.”
Keith Swift,
What portfolio did you get?
Elvin Penner, Cayo Northwest Area Rep.
“Well I am going to be working under Mr. Gaspar Vega as the Minister of Natural Resources, I am going to be the Minister of State.”
Keith Swift,
You satisfied with that?
Elvin Penner,
“Definitely by all means.”
Keith Swift,
How will that allow you to help your constituents?
Elvin Penner,
“Well I think countrywide that is indeed the Ministry that needs the most attention, having been given to Mr. Vega who is the deputy Prime Minister. I believe he will do a wonderful job at first of all rearranging and fixing up, cleaning up, because a lot of cleaning up needs to be done, and I am honored to be working along with the Deputy Prime Minister to try to assist him in whichever possible way I can. It is the Ministry that I do indeed know that I will be able to assist a lot of people because a lot of people are in need of paper for their properties, they are in need of land to begin with and there are also a lot of things that need to be done in straightening out the other land issues that have been causing people problems in the past.”
Keith Swift,
Would you have preferred to be a full Minister, a senior Minister?
Elvin Penner,
“I respect Mr. Dean Barrow, our new Prime Minister’s decision, I always knew he was competent of really creating a wonderful Cabinet, I do fully endorse and respect his decision.”
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