Faber and Perdomo will hit the ground running
A cabinet meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday afternoon in Belmopan. But some of the Ministers designate are more prepared than others. One of them is Patrick Faber, as his Ministry of Education portfolio had been promised to him well in advance of the elections.
Patrick Faber, Minister of Education
“Certainly I want to get into office and start working on Wednesday morning and upon that time I hope to meet with the senior management staff there and just go over what exactly has been happening in the ministry, look closely at what has occurred and what is not being done and go from there. I don’t want to say that drastic changes will be made because I don’t believe in just jumping in there and changing everything. We have to see what is working and what has not been working and do a real assessment of situation in there before I can say that any changes will be made.”
Janelle Chanona
“Any plans to continue with the election promise of these computers for primary and secondary schoolers?”
Patrick Faber
“I won’t be able to say at this time. I’m not sure what the arrangement was with Government. But as you know, our thing has always been that there is a lot more pressing needs for the Belizean people than free laptops so depending on what arrangements have been made we would certainly look to other things before that.”
Carlos Perdomo had also been tapped early on as the Minister of National Security. Perdomo says he’ll now move on the administration’s promise to revive the Conscious Youth Development Posse, bolster the resources of the Police Department and strengthen community relations.
Carlos Perdomo, Minister of National Security
“It’s a long term type of work but it’s going to be one that will include everybody and include all the ministries to help us because this issue is not just a police issue, it’s a community issue but people have to be invited, people have to be consulted, people have to be eager to climb on board.”
Janelle Chanona
“Do you foresee any immediate changes in the line up at the … rank and file?”
Carlos Perdomo
“No, no … no real changes right away. We need to sit down and see where movement or changes will strengthen. We’re not in there just to move around people for fun and games. We are going to sit down seriously and say put the best men, the strongest people, the most qualified and the best who can work for the community in positions of influence and work.”
With the exception of Barrow, Elrington, Hulse and Finnegan, none of the new ministers have any Cabinet experience, although several have held posts as public officers under both P.U.P. and U.D.P. administrations.
