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New government jobs - same old faces
CHIEF Minister Tony Brown says he has total confidence in his new ministerial line-up.
He said he was happy with his existing team and felt no need to bring in new faces.
And he denied that the shake-up was about rewarding those who had shown him support and punishing those who had shown dissent.
There are a few surprises in the new line-up and the only one to keep his existing job is Adrian Earnshaw at Home Affairs.
Allan Bell had been widely touted to head up the new Department of Economic Development but few would have guessed his place at Treasury would be taken by Education Minister Anne Craine, who becomes the first woman to take up that role in the Island.
Eddie Teare, who was once a 'risk manager' and a 'senior relationship manager' with the Isle of Man Bank, was tipped by some to take up the Treasury role, goes instead to Education and Children.
Phil Gawne, predicted by many to lead the new Department of Community, Culture and Leisure, is moved from DAFF to the Department of Infrastructure, the new-look DoT.
Were his political ambitions clipped by his public criticisms of agriculture being downgraded in the initial restructuring proposals?
Mr Brown told a press conference on Monday: 'I'm content to retain the team I have. They have dealt with some very important issues right across the board.'
He said replacing the health minister three weeks before the reciprocal health agreement was due to come to an end — David Anderson takes over from Mr Teare — would 'make no difference'.
'This restructuring has nothing to do with the reciprocal health agreement,' said Mr Brown. 'Life carries on.'
Mr Brown said no one had threatened to resign when told of their new postings and the process of selecting who went where was 'quite straightforward'.
'The choice of ministers is mine. I put them into places I felt appropriate — the right people for the right jobs.
'You have to be realistic. People have different views about the shake-up. Ministers have supported it. But any minister who felt they were unable to remain a minister could have resigned. No one threatened to resign to me at all.'
Asked whether the placing of Eddie Teare in charge of education meant that department was in line for spending cuts like those he had implemented in his previous posts at the DHSS and the MEA, Mr Brown said: 'All departments are under pressure to make savings and to become more efficient and effective. This is the first step.'
Questioned about Mrs Craine's experience for the key Treasury posting, the Chief Minister replied: 'All ministers have to deal with policy and with budgets of tens of millions of pounds.
'We need ministers with a wealth of experience of how governments operate.'
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
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YOUR COMMENTS
Methinks Anne Craine has been given the poisoned chalice (Treasury) and will be the political fall-guy/gal being blamed in future for all the necessary budget cuts, raised charges and public service downgrades - especially, if, as hinted at by Allan Bell, the UK comes back for an even bigger VAT clawback next year. Mrs Craine is expendable.
BARRIE STEVENS
To analise Mr Browns statement; Mr Brown "has total confidence in his new ministerial line-up" unfortunately we do not. "Eddie Teare, who was once a 'risk manager' " good perception Mr B! "Mr Brown told a press conference on Monday: 'I'm content to retain the team I have. They have dealt with some very important issues right across the board." yes but they all seemed to have cocked them up to varying degrees! "This restructuring has nothing to do with the reciprocal health agreement,' said Mr Brown. 'Life carries on" yes it does, but at who's expense, oh ours, AGAIN "Mr Brown said no one had threatened to resign when told of their new postings and the process of selecting who went where was 'quite straightforward'" This statement shows that maybe Mr B has more savvy than people give credit for. After all why would any of them resign? where else would they find a job that pays so well that is not performance related! "Questioned about Mrs Craine's experience for the key Treasury posting, the Chief Minister replied: 'All ministers have to deal with policy and with budgets of tens of millions of pounds" yes but they must do so effectivly and not as in the past wastefully "We need ministers with a wealth of experience of how governments operate" This one says it all does'nt it. Its about time our polititions and civil servants learnt accountability (no, not that adding up thing companies do) and were held to task over thier failings, likewise rewarded for achievements, it goes both ways! Unfortunately our govenment appears missmanaged, feeble, lacking vision and ignorant to the feeling of the general public against thier performance over the last 5 years or so. A famous american president once said "The buck stops here" in our case it seems the buck gets wasted and our guys stick 2 fingers up to us!
TTTASH
Who ever thought this one up would qualify for a script writer for Yes Prime Minister. To change the minister is ok,but to change the names of the departments is a waste of time and money,all headed paper etc will have to be changed,people who have got used to each department and who done what, will be confused,bits of one will be buried in another,B A airlines changed their colours years ago,it cost millions,then had to change again. To put it mildly WHY change if it works don't fix it, it could be compared to the Titanic as she was sinking,lets change the name to the Olympic.
EORH
The time has come for a bigger re shuffle starting at the very TOP, we need a general election to get rid of the deadwood, people power maybe.
RR
The old face we need to get rid of first is that of the Chief Minister. Never have we had someone in charge who is so clearly out of his depth and so out of touch. The restructure and reshuffle are just more evidence of this. The arrogance of his assertion that his team needs no changes - apart from a change in roles, is staggering. Mrs Craine for the Treasury? Where is the logic behind this? What qualification or experience has she for such a key post? All it really shows is that there is no-one in the Government, except for Mr Bell, perhaps, who does have the ability to do it, so Mrs Caine is as good a choice as any. God help us. It is the time for a change; not a restructure, not a reshuffle but a complete turnout. If Mr Brown is so confident that he has the right team in the right jobs, let him test that confidence by putting his selection to the electorate.
JB
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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