Seven Samurai resign from cabinet

When the Prime Minster on Thursday delivered the address that was essentially written for him by seven renegade cabinet ministers, it was thought that the wording of the document, calling for “restructuring at the highest levels” with “implementation by month?s end” was sufficiently vague to buy the P.M. at least two weeks time to do his consultations and try to craft a compromise in the name of party unity. That, however, is not how it worked out. Over the weekend the pressure to choose sides kept increasing on party stalwarts from top to bottom and when various factions weighed in pubically behind the status quo, it became increasingly clear that Prime Minster Said Musa was not about to accede to the dissidents? number one demand, that is the firing of Finance Minister Ralph Fonseca. Facing that prospect, the seven decided that waiting would serve no useful purpose and they proceeded to make good on their initial threat. Early this afternoon press releases hand delivered to each media house told the tale.

“Dear Prime Minster,

Honourable Servulo Baeza, Honourable John Briceño, Honourable Eamon Courtenay, Honourable Jose Coye, Honourable Mark Espat, Honourable Cordel Hyde, Honourable Godfrey Smith.”