Cabinet reshuffle to the Minister of Tourism.

Sen. Ira Philip (PLP) asked why the Hon. C.V. Jim Woolridge was not included in the changes that saw Education Minister the Hon. Gerald Simons moved to the Environment Ministry.

Sen. Philip also claimed that Mr. Simons was "unceremoniously dumped'' into the Environment Ministry, and said it was an admission of the failure of Government's education policies.

But Mr. Simons and Mr. Woolridge were defended by the Hon. Maxwell Burgess (UBP) and Sen. Jerome Dill (UBP), in yesterday's Senate meeting.

Sen. Philip described the reshuffle as an election ploy. Other moves saw the Hon. Ann Cartwright DeCouto move from Environment to Works and Engineering and the Hon. Clarence Terceira take over Education after four years in charge of Works.

The Senator said: "The Premier unceremoniously dumped, in mid-flight, our long-standing Minister for Education, the Hon. Gerald Simons.

"We are inclined to feel sorry for Mr. Simons, because the Premier should have listened to the PLP when we called for his resignation two years ago.

Instead that Minister has now become the victim of a "boomerang'' and has been banished to the Environment.

"This is an admission of failure on behalf of the Minister and on the part of the Government.

"We do not believe how the Cabinet shake-up could have occurred without the Minister of Tourism, who is more embattled than the former Minister of Education, having his portfolio brought into serious review.

"But we know the powers that be in the UBP dare not tackle the Minister of Tourism.'' Sen. Burgess said he was surprised that the PLP had raised the matter as the UBP had ignored a similar Opposition change when the Shadow Minister of Justice was moved to matters of Environment.

He said: "We have nothing to hide. The Premier is right to change the ministers if he sees fit.

"The former Minister of Education is anything but a failure and this Country owes him a debt of gratitude. In his seven years in charge the Island has made more progress in education reforms than before.

"In the fullness of time we will come to appreciate just how much of a contribution the former minister has made.'' Sen. Dill joined in the defence of the Government and the two ministers under fire from Sen. Philip.

Sen. Dill said: "His reference to the unceremonious dumping of Mr. Simons to the Ministry of the Environment speaks volumes for the PLP's view of the environment.

"We do not view the Ministry of the Environment as a banishment. We view it as a natural step because it is so vital. The PLP are diminishing the individual and the very, very important Ministry of the Environment.'' Referring to Sen. Philip's statement that the Minister of Tourism should be transferred from his "embattled'' position. "Again it speaks volumes for the PLP's misapprehension of what we are trying to do.

"People are not just shunted purely as a matter of expediency simply because they are embattled. The correct ministers are put in charge of ministries because Government is acting in the best interests of the Country.''