Fonseca Lands Largest Portfolio in Cabinet Shuffle

So, was Minister Oscar Requena’s move from Education to Rural Development a shake-up based on performance, or just part of a bigger strategic shuffle? That’s the question many are asking after Prime Minister John Briceño reassigned Requena earlier this week. In his place, Francis Fonseca is stepping in, and not just to lead Education, he’s now overseeing the largest portfolio in Cabinet. The Prime Minister says Fonseca has his full support, but with so many responsibilities now on his plate, some are wondering just how much backup he’ll need to keep everything running smoothly. We caught up with PM Briceño today to get his take on the changes and what they mean for the future of his administration.

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“No absolutely not, but what is happening is that again, Minister Requena reluctantly accepted that position. He was enjoying what he was doing at rural development and it has more to do with who he has and who he is and representing such a very rural community. He has about twenty plus villages and we felt he would be very effective there. But, at the moment of making some slight adjustments I had to give up the Ministry of Immigration and so I felt that we would make these changes, pass immigration to Minister Musa and then he could take over Minister Requena’s education. But when you are doing your review, you always have to look over what works best. I felt he would be best going to rural development. Minister Fonesca I feel he has really been the most transformative minister of education and he has been doing a lot of good work there, so we need to put him there.”

 

Paul Lopez

“How does he gets the support he needs?”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“He always has my full support and he knows that and he is one of our most effective and hard working and senior int hat he has already served in the 2003/2008 with Minister Musa along with me. So he has a lot of experience under his belt. So I believe he will be able to handle it. I am asking a lot of him, but he is a very good minister, has very good supporters and he understands the burden of leadership.”