The Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) is prepared to work with Senator Haynesley Benn, even though he is the third Commerce minister in two years.
Reacting to Prime Minister David Thompson’s Cabinet reshuffle last night, BCCI president Andy Armstrong told the WEEKEND NATION that the chamber “worked well with Dr David Estwick and George Hutson and we will work with Mr Benn who has come from a background of commerce”.
In addition, Armstrong said the BCCI would also continue to work with Estwick in his capacity as minister responsible for industry and small business development.
According to him the most significant appointment announced by Prime Minister Thompson was that of Christopher Sinckler as the new Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs.
For the BCCI president, the move represented a promotion for the St Michael North-West Member of Parliament and seemed to take into consideration Sinckler’s popularity with the public and his work in the Ministry of Social Care.
Armstrong, who last week noted that the country needed to have a leader at full capacity, said “we in the chamber continue to admire the way the Prime Minister continues to battle on and the whole business community continues to pray for him as he battles on”.
The BCCI president said it was necessary for the Prime Minister to address the nation and it was “prudent for him to give up some of his portfolio . . . and for him to utilise the talents contained in his Cabinet”.
Armstrong said it appeared that the Prime Minister tried to find an opportunity for every member to contribute in some way to Government. (GE)
