Post Cabinet Briefing Summary – Thursday 17th December, 2015

CABINET APPOINTED MEMBERS TO THE FOLLOWING BOARDS:

National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS):-

• Neil Parsanlal (Chairman)
• Charleen Phillip (Deputy Chairman)
• Elmelinda Lara
• Pandita Indrani Rampersad
• Lynette Tyson-Noel
• Karel Douglas
• Jefferson Guy
• Cathyan Townsend
• Elizabeth Mahadeo, Executive Director, NALIS (Ex-Officio)

College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago (COSTATT):-

• Sheldon Cyrus (Chairman)
• Kathleen Singh (Vice Chairman)
• S. Valerie Kelsick
• Janine Alicia Knaggs
• Rita Pemberton
• Glen Khan
• Kashka St. Hillaire
• Sanjay Garth Bahadoorsingh
• Jennifer Boucaud-Blake

Palo Seco Agricultural Enterprises Ltd:-

• Hedwidge S.K. Bereaux (Chairman)
• Louis Frederick (Deputy Chairman)
• Farrell Philbert
• Adrian Jeffers
• Anil Bahadoor
• Elizabeth Mohammed
• Geeta Rampersad

ARREARS OF SALARIES TO BE HONOURED IN 2016

The Minister of Labour, the Honourable Jennifer Baptiste-Primus, met with members of the Joint Trade Union Movement (JATUM) and the National Trade Union Centre (NATUC) on different days to discuss the country’s financial situation and the activities that led to the cash flow problems which the Minister of Finance spoke about in Parliament last Friday (December 11, 2015).

The Labour Movement was given assurances by the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Labour that the Government recognizes that a debt is owed but circumstances prevent the Government from meeting the debt by December 31st this year. It has been promised that those arrears will be honoured in 2016 via a loan on the open market.

On behalf of the Government, the Minister of Labour asked the Labour Movement to exercise the necessary patience, as it is a situation of deferred payments and not one where the Government does not intend to pay the debts owed.

CABINET APPROVES THE RATIONALISATION OF THE NUMBER OF PERMANENT SECRETARIES IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE

Previously there were two (2) Permanent Secretaries of the same Class Group 1B and equal rank reporting to the Minister of Finance. As a result of this, Cabinet has taken the decision to have One (1) Permanent Secretary report to the Minister and the post for a Permanent Secretary belonging to the Group C level will be created.

ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FOR CARNIVAL COMPETITIONS

National Chutney Soca Monarch

The allocation was $4.8million in 2015 and has been reduced to $2.9million (2016)

International Soca Monarch

The allocation was $8.09million in 2015 and has been reduced to $3.5million (2016)

The allocations were reduced because of the economic challenges currently being faced as Government seeks to rationalize limited resources and dispatch our responsibilities in a manner that is just, transparent and accountable and ultimately in the best interest of our nation.