Ali swears in 19 ministers

President Irfaan Ali (fifth from left in front row) and Prime Minister Mark Phillips (sixth from left in front row) with the new ministers. (Orlando Charles photo)

Nineteen ministers were added to the administration of President Irfaan Ali yesterday and among them are some veterans who have served in previous PPP/C’s administrations and also quite a few new faces.

There were some notable omissions as well as surprise inclusions when the new individuals took their oaths of office at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre yesterday before a sizable crowd of their relatives and friends, PPP/C well-wishers, members of the diplomatic corps, and heads of the joint services, among others.

Veterans likes Clement Rohee, Indra Chandarpal, and Dr Jennifer Westford, who all served in previous PPP/C administrations as ministers, were not given positions and were noticeably absent from the event while those returning include Priya Manickchand, Robeson Benn, Bishop Juan Edghill, and Pauline Sukhai.