TOURISM Minister Stephen Cadiz lauded the People's Partnership Government and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar's decision to fire former justice minister Herbert Volney over the Section 34 issue.

Cadiz spoke to reporters yesterday morning following the closing ceremony for a Tourism Development Company (TDC) training project for small tourism accommodation owners of Trinidad and Tobago. The event was held at the TDC's Barataria offices.

"I think the Prime Minister understands the responsibility of her Cabinet and she has carried out that responsibility in a way that I think the country would be extremely satisfied," he said.

"Our Government is one that if there are issues in the Government that are going to affect the governance of the country the Prime Minister will be there to protect democracy and once again she has shown that she has the mettle to do it and I think Trinidad and Tobago should be extremely glad to know that there is a Government in place that understands what their responsibilities are," Cadiz added.

"The Prime Minister was very clear on Thursday that she had to understand all that was going on and then she made a decision. I mean it is not an easy decision to take, namely removing a Cabinet member. It's not an easy decision for anyone to take but I think that waiting and evaluating and looking at all angles and being able to speak to the Chief Justice and being able to speak to the Director of Public Prosecutions to get the real story, I think she was very right with what she did and I don't think she was under any public pressure per se but she made the decision based on good governance and what was right."

Cadiz was also asked about Opposition Leader Keith Rowley's remarks on the controversial Section 34 issue, saying that just part of the problem was solved and the wider issues of governance were ignored.

"From my recollection from the ten years of the Manning administration, I don't know how many people were fired, how many people were brought to court or how many people were removed, whether it be Cabinet, whether it's from the Senate, whether it was an MP or whether it was the chairman of a board," Cadiz replied.

"I mean the People's National Movement (PNM) has a closet just full of questions and for them to come at this stage now and say that...I mean they have to understand one thing, in 2010 this country voted for a major change in the style of government because they were fed up with the style of government that the PNM provided.

"Now I mean, the PNM has every right to question everything that they want to question but I don't think that the recent political history would recall such a thing happening."

Cadiz continued: "All is very, very well in the People's Partnership. It is made up for four parties and there is always going to be a different view on certain things and that is what it is all about."