Councillors ‘temp’ ministers

| 19/08/2013

(CNS): The government has pushed the boundaries on the role of so-called government councillors to a new level as the PPM plans to swear in two C4C back-bench MLAs as temporary ministers while two Cabinet members take leave. In accordance with the constitution, Winston Connolly, who is currently the councillor in the education ministry, will stand in for Tara Rivers for two weeks, while Roy McTaggart (left), the councillor to both the finance minister and minster for financial services, will step in for Marco Archer, the minister responsible for Finance and Economic Development while he takes a ten day break. The political temps will be sworn in during the weekly Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, 20 August, officials said in a release from the premier’s office.

This is the first time that temporary ministers are being appointed in accordance with section 53(2) of the Constitution. In the past, another minister was assigned the responsibility of performing a Cabinet colleague’s functions while absent.

“Since November of 2009, our modernised Constitution has allowed for the appointment of temporary ministers, although the provision has never been utilised before,” said Premier Alden McLaughlin.

“Ministers are extremely busy with the responsibilities of their respective ministries and it is difficult for them to take on additional responsibilities when their colleagues are on leave or ill. It is only logical that councillors are appointed as temporary ministers on these occasions. I am privileged to lead an extraordinarily capable team and in keeping with my determination to have an inclusive government, to utilise the abilities of all members of the team in the best interest of the country,” he added.

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Vacation? Didn't they just start work the other day. What happen to the probation period?

    • Anonymous says:

      Probation period? When since do MLAs have a probation period? Don't talk nonsense. The only probation period is their 4 year term after which you can vote them out if you don't like how they've performed.  

  2. Anonymous says:

    Still wish Winston was the Minister full time. He has more adaptability and foresight
    than the current. Less drama and ego! But no worries he’ll be there soon, where he belongs! Keep calm.

    • Anonymous says:

      lol. Winston is lucky he's got this far considering he declared before the election that he would not support an Alden-led administration. There is no comparison between him and Tara who is brilliant woman of great acumen.

  3. Mitzie Miller Tomlinson says:

    Alden and the PPM keep up the Good Job, one thing i can say, you all are looking after the North Side People Too. Not like the last GOVT. They took us off the Map.

    • Anonymous says:

      The last GOVT???? Noooo, you didn't just saying that.  I thought Ezzard Miller was your immediate representative?! If any body took unna off the map it was him.  Why not blame him?? He's the one responsibe for unna non-existance.

      • Anonymous says:

        You're a fool. Obviously an opposition backbench MLA is dependent on the govt. to allocate funding for any projects in his district.     

        • And another ting says:

          He that call his fellow man a foolis a bigger fool. And another Ting.

          • Anonymous says:

            You obviously don't realize that that statement logically carries on to you since you are calling me a bigger fool. lol.   

  4. Porky Pig says:

    Previous Administration:  Talk all day as if lots is getting done. 

    Current Administration:  Talk all day as if lots is getting done.

    Previous Administration:  Fight with all and any.

    Current Aministration:  Sing Kumbaya my Lord with all and any.

    Previous Administration:  Get nothing done.

    Current Administration:  Get nothing done.

  5. Anonymous says:

    A 10 day break is a vacation, after only 100 days in office? hope they come back with the energy to battle the urgent issues!

    • Anonymous says:

      Most people have breaks, they are actually entitled to them. Guess you would be kind of pissed if someone told you to cancel yours, regardless of when you started a job. Were you ever a guard at a concentration camp by chance?

      • SSM345 says:

        Or perhaps they are unemployed and so currently on extended vacation?

  6. Anonymous says:

    Is this a 10 day break or vacation ? only 100 days in office?

     

  7. Anonymous says:

    Do these people obtain/ keep the title HONORARY as temp ministers when they step down? When you depart from the constitution it gets sticky to patch, and fix  

  8. So says:

    How come Aldin didnt appoint Suckoo as a Temp Minister when he was away?

    • Anonymous says:

      There is a Deputy Premier!

    • Anonymous says:

      Because Suckoo has a pair.

    • Anonymous says:

      Politics.

      This is the same Winston that said he wouldnt work with Alden to get votes.

    • ron says:

      The Governor cannot appoint another person to be the Premier, when Alden is off Island. Please read the constitution. 

      • Actually says:

        I said Temp Minister not Temp Premier, in case you didnt know, Aldin is also a Minister and Suckoo is his Jr Minister. Seems like a lot of kissing up to C4C going on. Joey was not appointed as a Temp Minister when Moses was away either.  What is good for C4C should be good for PPM.

  9. Anonymous says:

    Good move Alden. The councillors are like junior ministers and should be right in step with what's going on in their ministries and government as a whole. Hope they don't let you down and remember that they are part of a government and not a party.

  10. Anonymous says:

    The positions of Councilors are unconstitutional and not defined in the 2009 Constitution.

    It was wrong to introduce the title of Councilor and Junior Minister under the UDP and equally wrong for the PPM to continue this practice. As the Leader of Opposition Alden McLaughlin used every opportunity to bemoan the position and titles of MLA's Glidden and Solomon. What is good for the goose is good for the gander or do we apply a different standard to the new government?

    • Anonymous says:

      Taking into consideration the number of people who understand the law better than the Chief Justice, based on their interpretation of his ruling on Tara Rivers case, it is not surprising that you would know more about the Constitution than theperson who brought it into law.

  11. Anonymous says:

    Where and who is the 'opposition' at this point? PPM is running a good PR campaign but very little in terms of real , tangible or visible results.What is the paln to fix anything?

    • Reality says:

      Coming soon. They said last week. Like a responsible government, they are thinking before speaking. Get used to it.

    • Anonymous says:

      Be realistic my friend. Your previous government were masters of the "sound bite" and "quick fix". There are solutions to many of the root causes of our problems already in play by the new crew. Keep your eyes on Mr. Archer. There are no quick fixes. You will soon begin to see the evidence of a real turnaround in actions, attitudes, results, and consequences.

    • Anonymous says:

      The PPM spend a lot, say a lot, achieve nothing.

      By the way I am not a UDP supporter.  The UDP are worse.

  12. Anonymous says:

    I bet Ellio is disappointed that McKeeva didn't make him Premier for a few days.

  13. Anonymous says:

    It is really good to know who is in charge while people are away..would encourage government to be ever more open in its approached to all subjects