(Trinidad Guardian) Six months after being elected the Prime Minister of T&T, Kamla Persad-Bissessar has named Housing and Environment Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal as her successor. Praising Moonilal’s contribution to her administration, she said: “If anything should happen to me, God forbid, I see Dr Moonilal as being my successor.” Persad-Bissessar, political leader of the United National Congress, made the announcement as she spoke at a private function in Moonilal’s honour at San Fernando Hill on Sunday night.
The function, organised by “friends of Rudy” to celebrate him being called to the bar on October 29, was also attended by Attorney General Anand Ramlogan, People’s Ministry’s Glenn Ramadharsingh and Local Government Minister Chandresh Sharma. Paying tribute to the Oropouche East Member of Parliament, she said: “Dr Moonilal is a very important man in this Government. Our Government is very proud of you and very proud to have you in this Government.”
She said she had advised Moonilal to write the exam in September, but “thank God he did not listen to me.” Noting, however, that he would not be able to practice because he is a minister, she said: “There is life after politics and Dr Moonilal will become one of the greatest lawyers this country have ever seen. Just like the good politician he is.” Ramlogan who also spoke at the function said Moonilal and Persad-Bissessar were the two personalities who had inspired him in his political life.
‘I am honoured and
humbled’
Meanwhile Moonilal said he was ready to serve in any capacity given to him by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. In a telephone interview on Monday, he said he felt deeply honoured and humbled by the faith and confidence the Prime Minister had in him. He added: “I remain highly committed to achieve in the specific areas assigned to be by the Prime Minister and committed to play my role as a team player in our high performance Cabinet. “This is also speaks volumes about the PM who has demonstrated a maturity and character to plan for her party and the nation, “This is akin to our highest democratic values and demonstrates the confidence and clear purpose of the PM,” he said.
