Finance Minister Eugene Cox yesterday said he would consider whether to carry on in the key Government post after the new Budget is delivered in February.

Although not saying he would step down, Mr. Cox said it may be time to “take a break” after being diagnosed with stomach cancer earlier this year.

The Minister's health has been much talked about with some speculating that he may not be well enough to carry on as Finance Minister. Although saying that he had had to take time out for surgery and chemotherapy treatments, Mr. Cox defended the job he is doing.

He said it was a private subject but recognised that it may be in the public's interest as he holds one of the top Government posts.

“It might be good, in a way, to respond to this type of question sooner than we think because it becomes rumour. People have come up to me to ask me how I am because they heard I was dying. Those are the types of things that begin circulating when you want to be private.”

Mr. Cox recognised that chemotherapy treatments he had to undergo - with treatments scheduled as two weeks on, one week off - had taken him away from the office. He said his treatment was now in tablet form and he was not required to go to the hospital except for occasional testing.

As for any impact on his job overseeing the Island's economic well-being, Mr. Cox said he did not expect sovereign ratings from the rating agencies to be impacted as his health would not be an issue. He said he was intent on prudently overseeing the country's economic issues. But he conceded that his ill health may have meant less time spent at the Ministry, but that things were running smoothly.

“With having to have spent more time on my health, I certainly can't say I'm doing a better job with time management. I do not want to argue that it is not impacting my job at all.”

Despite losing a lot of weight, Mr. Cox said his doctors had told him to do whatever he wants, to eat whatever he wants and that his health was improving. He added that the pounds were now starting to go back on.

When asked how long he intended to stay on as Finance Minister, Mr. Cox said that as a public servant, he was accountable, under the British system, to the Premier. “He (Alex Scott) has the right to select the Cabinet Ministers to do the jobs he wants done. Doing them well, you could get replaced, but if you don't do your job well you should be replaced. But up to now I have been very proud that I have served going on five years as Finance Minister, and I did a lot of hard work when we were climbing up to be the Government. And I continue to do a lot of hard work. But it his privilege, and he could call me when he comes back from London saying that he had decided to shuffle Cabinet and I would have to accept that, if he asked me to step down.”

But in terms of his own plans, Mr. Cox said he would re-evaluate his options when the new Budget was delivered in February, citing a concern to see out the current fiscal year.

Mr. Cox pointed out the next Budget was currently being prepared and although not saying that he would retire next year, he said he would look at his options. He added that this was something he always does, but this time he may look at what he would do a little more closely, citing the concern of family.

“I'm not saying that I will step down (at the end of the fiscal year), but I will review my options.”

Mr. Cox said that a dock on the property he and his wife own has been little used in recent years, although he used to use it for fishing.

“I can just walk down to the dock (to fish), but I have not been able to do that since four or five years ago... I think it is time to take a break.”