As expected, many tongues were set ablaze since Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced the reshuffling of Government ministers and their portfo-lios.

More than ever, citizens are criticising the Government's every move, and it appears that every Trinidadian and Tobagonian has become political scientists. The populace is no longer tolerant and is now an impatient mass of sceptics.

It certainly is the right of the Opposition and every citizen to convey their opinions —an intrinsic feature of any functional democracy. But we should also be wary of going overboard with critique. Opposition Leader Dr Rowley already voiced his concern over the appointment of Jack Warner as the new National Security Minister.

Dr Rowley's present concern is understandable, given the charges (although cleared) made against Mr Warner's integrity in the recent FIFA scandal.

As dubious as Mr Warner's character may appear to some, his work here in T&T speaks for itself. And whether we like him or not, he is a man who gets the job done. This is why he now heads the most significant ministry in the country.

Many of us are trying to rationalise why certain ministerial changes were made and are racking our heads to find hidden agendas as it were. It appears that we have been so wronged by leaders that we now trust very little or nothing they say or do. But while we fervently exercise our right to criticise and analyse, we must be mindful that sometimes, things are exactly what they appear to be and must be taken at face value. We need to give the new ministerial assignments a chance.

Dexter Rigsby

Mt Lambert