Not all MPs will be appointed to Cabinet, says Dr. Mitchell

Though they were all elected as a member to the House of Representatives as a result of last week Tuesday’s landslide victory of the New National Party in the General Elections, not all will be appointed as a Government Minister to serve in the Cabinet.

Newly-elected Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell announced on Friday during a victory rally that at least two or three will be serving as backbenchers in the Parliament. The move, he explained, will give the affected members the opportunity to serve on the Public Accounts and other Committees in the Parliament. One will also be appointed as Deputy Speaker.

“The regulations require that elected Members of Parliament serve on these committee,” Dr. Mitchell told supporters as he explained the dilemma of having won all the constituencies in the February 19 General Elections in which the NNP candidates received almost 60 per cent of the votes.

Calling on supporters of constituencies who will be directly affected following the swearing-in of ministers on March 3, 2013 to understand the reason behind the decision, he said that whereas the MPs will have no problem with the proposal, supporters are sometimes the ones who cannot accept the outcome.

“Sometimes the Members will be quite happy with the situations, but the people are not,” he said, while reminding the thousands who attended the rally that the voting process is for the candidate to become a Member of Parliament and not necessarily for a Cabinet position.

“What I can assure you is that very members will have to serve you,” he said as he confirmed that the financial monthly package will not be different to a minister’s salary because although the affected MPs will not be a minister, there will be certain basic needs.

“Whether serving in the Cabinet or not, they will receive the same salary; no one will be marginalised,” he said, as he pointed out that he has received advice on how best to deal with the unique situation of no Opposition in the Parliament from local, regional and international leaders. (LS)