WELCOME, MR. WARNER
By RHONDOR DOWLAT Wednesday, June 2 2010
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IT WAS A happy mob scene when Jack Warner arrived yesterday at the Ministry of Works and Transport’s head office in Port-of-Spain, where he received a rousing welcome from staff as he took over from Colm Imbert as the line Minister.
Imbert was the Works and Transport Minister in the last PNM administration.
At about 1.30 pm, members of staff, like fans waiting to a see a superstar, gathered outside the building at the corner of Richmond and London Streets. Some stood inside in the reception area looking through the glass wall, while others waited on each platform of the staircase on all six floors, also looking through glass windows. Fifteen minutes before Warner’s arrival, Minister of Arts and Multiculturalism Winston “Gypsy” Peters and Minister of Community Development Nizam Baksh stopped in a SUV to see why a crowd was outside the Works Ministry.
“Nizam, Gypsy, Jack (Warner) coming just now?” Works employees shouted when they recognised the two ministers. Then, at about 2.30 pm, Warner and Rudranath Indarsingh, Minister in the Ministry responsible for transport, arrived and the staff welcomed them with loud cheers and thunderous applause.
Some jumped up and down, waving and calling out to Warner. A few said, “Today is a new day with Jack (Warner).”
Clearly surprised, Warner stood on the pavement for a few moments, before climbing the stairs to the entrance. “I am humbled by your hearty welcome. I am humbled,” he told the staff, as they mobbed him, some recording the moment on their camera cell-phones, one even had a Canon digital camera.
Stunned, Indarsingh stood quietly beside Warner. Also waiting outside for Warner was former public relations officer of the Route Two Maxi Taxi Association, Elu Dillon, who advised him to have proper consultation before making any decision to open the Priority Bus Route (PBR) to the public during peak hours in a bid to ease traffic congestion. Dillon told Warner that if he decides to open the PBR, maxi taxi operators who have contracts to transport schoolchildren will be affected.
She also said if schoolchildren are transported by PTSC buses, maxi taxi drivers will also lose. “We have a lot of new maxis on the bus route and we have to pay as much as $15,000 to $20,000 per month, not only will the maxis lose out but also the banks and the credit unions who loaned us the monies to purchase the new fleet of maxis. We have been carrying schoolchildren for as many as four years. We really would want you to seek the best interest, not only for us but also for the country as a whole,” she said.
Warner assured Dillon he will meet with members of the Maxi Taxi Association tomorrow where he will listen to their issues, concerns and suggestions.
Dillon expressed her appreciation to Warner for his willingness to hear what maxi taxi operators have to say.
As Warner and Indarsingh moved off and walked up the stairs to the entrance, they were surrounded by employees, most of them pushing for a handshake from Warner. Some even stole hugs and others shouted, “Welcome, welcome Mr Warner.” Members of the media had to hold on to the railings to avoid being pushed over by the enthusiastic crowd.
As Warner and Indarsingh entered the foyer, the staff inside began to applaud and cheer as well, and again they took pictures of their new Minister.
“All you pushing me, I can’t see him, I can’t see him,” said one employee. Several openly said they were glad Imbert was no longer their Minister. Some are even looking forward to a “fantastic Sports Day” complaining that the event was cancelled because it was scheduled for May 22, the day the People’s Partnership and the PNM held their final political rallies before the May 24 General Election, which the PNM lost.
They also hope to have a “very Merry Christmas party” this year. 
One employee said she was certain her new boss will provide proper drinking water for the staff. “We have water-coolers but the water comes from the pipes. We hope now that Mr Warner replaces the water-coolers with filtered water dispensers, for example Blue Waters, for drinking.”
Speaking with reporters, Warner said he expected to find resignation letters on his desk from the board members of several special purpose companies that fall under his new ministry, and if not he promised to “write them”.
Last Sunday, during Indian Arrival Day celebrations at his Chaguanas West constituency office, Warner said the People’s Partnership Government expected directors on the boards to resign by the time he took up office.
Yesterday, Warner told reporters his first order of business was to meet with senior staff members of the ministry, including the Permanent Secretary, to find out “what outstanding work there is?”
“ I want to know how much money was spent? How much money remained? What contracts were signed in the last months before the General Election was called and if any contracts were signed after the election?”
After speaking to reporters, Warner and Indarsingh walked towards an elevator, amid another round of cheers and applause.
As the Newsday team attempted to follow Warner to his office to get a photograph of him behind his desk, MTS security personnel blocked them and said they were acting on instructions from the PS “not to let any media into the building”.
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