Young hits ground running but Hinds a no-show

NEW Energy Minister Stuart Young on Tuesday hit the ground running on his first day in his new ministry, alluded a statement from his ministry's communication unit.

"The permanent secretary (Acting) at the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries Mrs Penelope Bradshaw Niles, along with other executives, welcomed the newly appointed Minister of Energy and Energy Industries, the Honourable Stuart R Young MP to the Ministry’s International Waterfront Complex Office today where work immediately began with discussions related to the energy sector."

Young is also a Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister and was previously Minister of National Security until the Prime Minister's Cabinet mini-reshuffle on Monday owing to the sudden death of former energy minister Franklin Khan last Saturday.

The statement said, as an attorney-at-law and member of the Government-empowered negotiation team, Young had already worked on negotiations with international companies to finalise agreements on gas-related issues and the restructuring of the gas value-chain.

"This resulted in improved returns from the country’s hydrocarbon resources and overall financial and economic benefits to Trinidad and Tobago."

Otherwise Newsday was unable to contact new Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds who did not reply to our text messages or phone calls.

However, up to press time reports were that Hinds had not yet visited his new ministry at Abercromby Street, Port of Spain.