Despite the lifting of pandemic restrictions, Cabinet meetings under the former PNM administration continued to be held virtually without controversy, that's according to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
She made the statement on Thursday, responding to criticism over her decision to work remotely during her first days in office.
00:00According to Cabinet documents obtained by TV6, of the 498 virtual meetings, 298 of those were Cabinet meetings, while 200 were for the Finance and General Purposes Committee.
00:15While virtual meetings were standard during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the documents confirmed that the practice continued well after restrictions were lifted, raising concerns about the evolving norms of executive governance.
00:31The information comes as Prime Minister Kamala Prasad-Bissasa faces criticism for working remotely during her first week in office. Her government cited unfit conditions at Whitehall and the Diplomatic Center as the reasons for the decision.
00:48PNM Chairman Dr. Nian Gatsby-Dolley publicly questioned the move, raising doubts about the Prime Minister's visibility and health.
00:56In response, Prime Minister Prasad-Bissasa defended her working arrangements, saying that government does not begin and end at the Lighthouse.
01:06The Prime Minister explained her administration intends to use government facilities across Trinidad and Tobago, including in the north, central, south and in Tobago, to conduct Cabinet meetings.
01:19She describes it as a more inclusive and mobile approach to governance.
01:24Prasad-Bissasa also confirmed decisions are underway with the Permanent Secretary of the Office of the Prime Minister to identify a suitable location to house the Cabinet Secretariat to ensure operations can proceed smoothly.
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