by JULIA RAWLINS-BENTHAM

WHILE MOST OF HER COLLEAGUES spent the first day in their new posts yesterday, new Minister of Energy and the Environment Elizabeth Thompson spent hers among constituents.

The former Minister of Housing and Lands is seeing her new assignment as a promotion and not a demotion, and will be on the job from tomorrow.

She made the comments after delivering the feature address during yesterday's launch of the Sustainable Development in Low Income Communities Project at Haynesville Community Police outpost in St James.

Thompson's move was described by Opposition spokesman on housing Michael Lashley as "a clear demotion", and a "two-day-a-week job".

She however dismissed this notion, stating her new post could hardly be regarded as a minor assignment.

Thompson said she was looking forward to her "very exciting" new appointment given the importance of energy to the economy, and the emphasis which Prime Minister Owen Arthur placed on it in his last Economic Statement.

"Clearly I regard it as a major challenge and truly look forward to it," she said.

She added she did not "miss anything" about the Ministry of Housing and Lands, where she was assigned for the last two years.

"As long as you understand that as a minister you serve at the pleasure of the Prime Minister, and any day he can call you and say go home or go elsewhere. You mustn't develop an attachment to it that would cause you to miss it when it is gone," she added.

Thompson said she "really" gave Housing her best shot, and already had plans for her new ministry.

She identified the area of alternative energy as being critical and essential to the ministry.

She added the country's priority should also be reducing the amount of energy consumed, and that she would place emphasis on implementing programmes that would achieve a reduction in the national energy bill.

juliarawlins@nationnews.com