Government Minister Vasant Bharath is now in charged with overseeing State enterprises which fall under the purview of the Finance Ministry.

Bharath, who was shifted from the Food Production Ministry to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment in Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar's Cabinet reshuffle last month, was announced last week as a Minster of State in the Ministry of Finance to aid new Finance Minister Larry Howai.

Speaking to the Express yesterday at the Hyatt Regency (Trinidad), Port of Spain, Bharath elaborated on his new duties.

"Mr Howai and I have met on this matter and it has been determined that I will handle the State enterprises that fall under the Ministry of Finance and the Corporation Sole. Some of them are running relatively well; some of them are problem children; and some have some controversy attached to them," he said.

Bharath's new portfolio will include oversight on State enterprises like Caribbean Airlines, the First Citizens banking group and food producer National Flour Mills.

Yesterday he met with Caribbean Airlines' chairman Rabindra Moonan, and next week will meet with Jamaica's Minister of Transport Omar Davies to discuss Air Jamaica.

Reporting relationships for State boards as articulated in the Ministry of Finance's State Enterprise Monitoring Manual are Cabinet at the top, followed by the Minister of Finance (Corporation Sole) and line ministers for State enterprises, then the Ministry of Finance (Investment Division) and line ministries, followed by the board of directors, and then Management of State Enterprises.