Senior Minister Francis Fonseca continues his recovery from triple bypass surgery. Reports indicate the senior minister was cleared for release from the hospital on Sunday and is now convalescing at home.
But as we have been reporting it will be a months-long recovery, and his very weighty portfolios were temporarily reassigned today.
First off, Prime Minister John Briceno will hold over the Foreign Affairs portfolio. He told us, quote, "Francis Fonseca has asked that I be assigned the portfolio of MOFA until he gets back." End quote.
The Cabinet Secretary informs us that junior minister Marconi Leal will temporarily take over Foreign Trade. And For Education, Minister of State in the Ministry Ramon Cervantez will be holding over.
The decisions were taken in cabinet today and the hold-over assignments are expected to be gazetted immediately. Typically, the convalescence period for open heart surgery is two to three months but it can vary considerably.
