Thursday, April 24 2008

Business industry heads were stunned yesterday by the news that Dr Keith Rowley had been fired as Trade and Industry Minister and replaced by Dr Lenny Saith, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister.

President of the Chaguanas Chamber of Industry and Commerce Garvin Seemungal said he was surprised by the development in the Government.

“We just began discussions with Rowley and we invited him to address our members next month. We had no indication that this would happen,” he said. He said a project for the expansion and development of Chaguanas was on hold pending a note to Cabinet.

“Kenneth Valley, when he was minister refused to take the plan to Cabinet but Rowley indicated that he would do it. We will have to start lobbying all over again with Minister Saith.” President of the Greater Tunapuna Chamber of Industry and Commerce Peter Kanhai said the dismissal raises questions about Rowley’s future in the Government.

“Rowley was recently appointed and I think he has not really settled into the position. To find out he was removed and if no announcement is made, where he is to be placed? It raises a lot of questions,” he said.

Marketing and communications manager at the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Sharon Balroop said president, Ian Collier, could not comment on the situations as he was not informed of the development and would have to “let the news sink in before any comment could be made.”

Downtown Owners and Merchants Association (DOMA) Gregory Aboud said, “Mr Rowley had not been in his position long enough to interact with him. I am unable to make any comment about his performance because of that.”