It was not until he made it into the last third of his speech that he answered the leading question everyone was asking: Who would comprise the new Cabinet? (See P.M. Address to the Nation.)

It is evident that while the nationally important matters were severely downplayed in the Prime Minister?s address, that they remain at the heart of public discourse and the source of potential public conflagration today.

It was no wonder, then, that many listened in awe as the Prime Minister declared that, ?I will assume full responsibility for the Ministry of Finance as a pledge of my personal commitment to meet and deal with them [the challenges] effectively.?

It was, in fact, the Prime Minister who had been the Minister of Finance when the Social Security transactions that are now the subject of public discussion took place. (See Disclosures on SSB and DFC .)

In his address last night, the Prime Minister went on to say that, ?Minister Ralph Fonseca will be functionally responsible to pursue the [$450 million] bond issue with the authority of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.?

His announcements declared an interesting turn of events as, not only would Fonseca remain in Cabinet, but so would the Group of Seven (G-7), who had last Thursday given the Prime Minister an ultimatum: get rid of Minister Fonseca or the seven of them would resign.

However, before the three-week grace period negotiated by the Prime Minister last Thursday, August 12, the G-7 tendered their resignation. Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Johnny Brice?o, Minister of Natural Resources, and the Environment, Commerce and Industry; Hon. Mark Espat, Economic Development, Investment, Tourism and Culture; Hon. Godfrey Smith, Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Emergency Management; Hon. Jose Coye, Works; Hon. Cordel Hyde, Housing and Transport; Hon. Servulo Baeza, Agriculture and Fisheries; and Senator Eamon Courtenay, Attorney General, surprisingly resigned on Monday afternoon, August 16.

The previous two days had been packed with tense negotiations, according to the reports from various sources linked to both the Cabinet and the ruling People?s United Party, and in the end, both sides compromised on their demands.

So it happened that late Wednesday evening, the Prime Minister announced his final decision: former Minister of Finance and the People?s United Party?s National Campaign Manager, Hon. Ralph Fonseca, would stay in Cabinet, though he would no longer be the Minister of Finance. The G-7?which, our sources say, had refused to go back to Cabinet unless they were all reinstated?would also stay in Cabinet.

Musa went on to outline his new Cabinet. In addition to the reinstatement of the G-7, the Prime Minister added three new Ministers of Cabinet, now making the G-7 a minority in Cabinet. The new Ministers are Toledo East?s Michael Espat, Cayo North?s Ainslie Leslie, and H.E. Assad Shoman, who will have to be named a Senator to take on his new role as the Minister of National Development. Musa will have two Ministers of State in the Ministry of Finance?Deputy Prime Minister and Hon. Coye, both members of the G-7. (See details outlined in table: Prime Minister?s New Cabinet, at the bottom of page 7.)

We were able to confirm from the Prime Minister?s office that the new Cabinet members would be sworn in on Friday, August 20.

Those area representatives who have been promoted to Ministerial status will earn better salaries. Since last August, parliamentarians earn $40,000 for sitting in the House, but they earn just over twice that for being a Minister?that?s at least $120,000 a year more for salaries, apart from allowances and perks, on GOB?s budget for Ministers alone.

It is ironic that at a time when the public is calling for their monies to be better spent?and with more transparency and accountability?that the first major change the Prime Minister implements will cost taxpayers over a hundred thousand dollars annually!

The Cabinet that was sworn in after the 2003 elections had only 13 members, since the Prime Minister had committed to keeping a smaller Cabinet than in previous years. In his address Wednesday night, the Prime Minister did not explain why the additional Ministers were necessary to run the country?s affairs.

(For more details on Cabinet?s troubles, see next story: Walking the walk. Also see last Sunday?s headline: Cabinet confrontation ends in compromise.)