Senior Reporter
kay-marie.fletcher@guardian.co.tt
Staff members and officials at the Ministry of Education are still mourning the death of Lisa Morris-Julian, but there is uncertainty if her role—as Minister in the Ministry of Education—will be relinquished when a new government is installed. Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly admitted that the Education Ministry is a huge responsibility for one minister to tend to, but could not say whether another minister will be appointed if the PNM wins the upcoming election.
Speaking to Guardian Media at the Education Ministry’s head office in Port-of-Spain yesterday after the Schools’ Recognition Ceremony for selected primary and secondary institutions, Gadsby-Dolly said, “This ministry is a huge ministry. We have two permanent secretaries and Minister Morris-Julian was very valuable in assisting going forward. That is up to the Prime Minister if he wants to appoint someone at this stage. Look at where we are in the election cycle, so I’m not sure if someone else is going to be appointed, that’s up to the Prime Minister. But, certainly, the work of the ministry has gone on because we have all adjusted to bearing the load.”
Gadsby-Dolly also said it’s been difficult dealing with Morris-Julian’s death. The D’Abadie/O’Meara MP died on December 16, last year along with her eldest and youngest children during a fire at their Arima house.
“It is always a serious loss. Even today when I came in, I sat and I said ‘Lisa is not here’ and this is something that we would have discussed. All these programmes, she would have been so happy to see that we’re at this point. It is a very sad thing, we continue to pray for the family because I cannot imagine how they feel. We know how we feel, so far less for them.
“So, it’s been a difficult and sad situation. We did offer counselling throughout the ministry and everyone who wanted to avail themselves of it was able to do that. And we’re happy to do that. I, myself, thank God I have a good support system, so I would have had my family, co-workers and so on, so we would have been able to commensurate and carry each other through,” Gadsby-Dolly said.
Asked if she wanted another chance at being the Education Minister, she said she had more to offer when it comes to public service.
“It’s all in God’s hands, all in God’s hands. But, I do think that as a citizen I have enjoyed my public service in this country. It has not been an easy road. It’s not easy but it’s very valuable work and I think I have more to offer. Where I do that and how I do that, that’s really up to God and I have not set plans that it has to be this or it has to be something else, but God will lead.”
Guardian Media also reached out to Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar to find out if her party wins the election, if she would appoint two ministers in the Ministry of Education. However, there was no response up to late yesterday evening.