People's National Movement (PNM) leader Dr Keith Rowley said yesterday Government's one-day parliamentary workshop in Tobago on budget scrutiny and parliamentary oversight proved the country needs a smaller Cabinet.

"Throughout the day, there was a common thread that there needs to be a significant reduction in the size of Cabinet," Rowley said.

Rowley said Independent Senator Subhas Ramkhelawan raised the point that even corporate boards only had eight or nine members.

"For a good reason. Around a table, the larger the number, the more inefficient the meeting becomes," he said.

He said yesterday's meeting highlighted the need for a smaller Cabinet but with a larger parliamentary component with effective committees.

"Because there is too much work to be done now with the current arrangement, and with the best will in the world, it will not be done," he said.

Rowley said fellow Opposition Senator Colm Imbert, who is also head of the Public Accounts Committee, said out of 100 projects that needed parliamentary oversight, just ten would get work done.

"The operators within the system know there is no effective oversight, and that influences their conduct," he said.

Rowley said the only way to ensure proper oversight was to have full-time parliamentarians with time dedicated to managing the projects.

Though Rowley remained in the session for its duration, several fellow Opposition and Government ministers left before the five-hour workshop was over.

"If Cabinet members feel they have other things to do, that's a different story. Too many members of Cabinet feel its all about fun and games," he said.