By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
WITH no plans to shuffle his Cabinet, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis on Saturday dismissed “fake news” that he has reduced the portfolio of Environment Minister Romauld Ferreira.
A document purporting to be from the Cabinet Office was circulated widely on social media over the weekend, claiming Mr Ferreira is no longer responsible for relations with “national and international organisation[s] on matters relating to the environment, the Bahamas Science and Technology Commission (BEST), reefs and blue holes, international convention[s], treaties, protocols and agreements relating to the environment, the Plant Protection Act, wild animal and bird protection and natural history specimens.”
The fake document said the matters have all been transferred to the Office of the Prime Minister.
When asked about this, Dr Minnis said: “Fake news have said so many things about me, those things don’t bother me. I’ve told my entire Cabinet just to remain focused, just stay on the highway, you know where the goal, you know what to achieve, just head toward the goalpost. Don’t worry about the sideways and don’t worry about the exit terminals, stay focused.”
He added: “[People] have sent so many documents around… fake news. I know nothing about the document.”
Asked if he has considered shuffling his Cabinet, he said: “No, no, no, no – I think we’re a young Cabinet and each and every member [is] doing very, very good and I think when I do my national address next year you will see what we have achieved, what our accomplishments are and what we intend to do. One thing I’m looking forward to is the launch of the inner-city tax-free zone programme; that will definitely be launched in the next budget. You’ll see something you’ve never seen before.”
Since the May 10 general election, opponents of the administration have targeted Mr Ferreira in an apparent effort to cause embarrassment to the Minnis administration.
In September, Mr Ferreira dismissed speculation from the Progressive Liberal Party that he had taken a leave of absence from Cabinet due to personal issues.
Yesterday, Mr Ferreira said about the reports: “I feel honoured to be targeted.”
Last Thursday, Mr Ferreira and a government delegation were in Montreal, Canada attending the Montreal Protocol Conference on climate change.
Comments
TalRussell 7 years ago
Comrades! Where there's smoke there's fire? What is the TRUTH from a government that promised to cloak themselves in transparency?
hrysippus 7 years ago
Want to hear some genuine true true fake news? Attend any political rally in the election run-up.
ThisIsOurs 7 years ago
This is weird. I listened to Rummy on let's talk live days before the election and I was shocked by his performance, he was picking fights with Carlton over nothing, Asking Carlton aggressively, "what you trying to say, what you trying to say". He was also woefully unable to articulate what he would do in the constituency, I thought it was a softball question from a caller but he couldn't answer it. He ran on and on about how he wanted to instill hope. It was so bad I did wonder if he was tipsy.
From that performance I made a public comment that he should not be given a cabinet post, him and Lanisha and Vaughn Miller who made an equally dismal appearance. Why this FNM team is unable to assess these people critically I have no idea. Then of course there's the FS.
TalRussell 7 years ago
Comrade ThisIsOurs, the PM knows lots more but he'a ducking the people.... and you don't have your guard up - without having good reason? I stated a week back that three high profiled red shirts will be resigning from their 'positions' within the red shirts regime. The PM's body language speaks volumes.
sheeprunner12 7 years ago
All civil servants are assessed once per year by their managers ......... The Cabinet should be assessed in the same way ........ Cut the fat after one year, leaner and meaner ...... twelve, max.
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