And finally from the UDP Chairman - we asked for his perspective on the changes in the Briceno Cabinet. He recently promoted the only 3 remaining backbenchers to Ministers of State.
Peyrefitte served in a UDP government with Ministers of State so we asked how he read the political maneuver:
Michael Peyrefitte, Chairman - UDP
"I guess the Prime Minister has to find employment for those who he believe delivered in in the March six municipal elections, or at least to give them an inner track to, you know, to hopefully maintain that majority of 16 in the next general election, because he wants to keep everybody happy at any cost."
"But we have to remember ministers of still are not full ministers. They don't they don't sign any statutory instruments, for example, they don't play any role other than essentially being sort of in between the CEO and the Minister?"
"I can't see what the purpose of some of them were, other than maybe a bump in salary, a bump in privileges, I don't know."
"And it would be interesting to know what these new ministers of state will do that the CEOs and the ministers weren't doing before. I mean, what will be their specific job description? What would they be in charge of specifically? What would they be doing? What would they be held accountable for? During my time that I served, certainly it was it was helpful. The ministers of state were very helpful in shedding light on certain things, But they had specific responsibilities and specific tasks when they worked with us. Let's see how it will work for them."
