How do Cabinet Privileges Work? Are They Real or Concocted?

Dean Barrow

So how does the idea of an individual who does not hold a ministerial rank or portfolio work, in the context of a constitution which clearly defines the qualifications necessary for someone to enter Cabinet?  It’s a question that was met with a similar question by the former head of government.

Dean Barrow, Former Prime Minister

“How on earth can a government, given that there’s a constitution that tells you who are to be members of Cabinet and what the requirements are, how can somebody who has just resigned from the Cabinet be given Cabinet privileges that will, in fact, that are incidental to remaining or to being a member of Cabinet.  I’m sorry, I can’t make it very clear because it is so inherently muddled.  It is the most inept of solutions to a Briceño problem and apart from being inept, it is hollow, it rings false.  It is an effort to put lipstick on a pig to counter fit what is clearly a division in the Briceño cabinet and it appears a parting of ways between Briceño and the man we thought was his alter ego, the man we thought was running him and Briceño is left hapless and the solution he’s come up with in terms of trying to sell the public a bill of goods is, as usual, extremely maladroit.  So the first question he needs to do, in terms of public accountability is explain exactly what this means and how it is that somebody who is not a member of Cabinet, who is not a minister, and you become a member of Cabinet by being a minister, the constitution is clear, even Ministers of State are not members of Cabinet.  They can attend by invitation.  So, Courtenay, who resigns as a minister, is going to continue to, in fact, operate as a minister, as a member of Cabinet, with Cabinet privileges.  It makes absolutely no sense.  They’re playing ducks and drake with the public.”