WHERE the new year finds them: Based on their performance and behaviour are these major news personalities in a better or worse position that they were a year ago?
Minister of Education Dr. Tim Gopeesingh (down): Enters 2011 with charges of sexual harassment on top of continued chaos in the education system
Minister of the People Glenn Ramadharsingh (Up): In front of the cameras appears to take an interest in people in need
Minister of Health Fuad Khan (sideways): Woes continue to plague the health system, but Khan has only been Minister for six months; he’s still yet to make a serious misstep
Sasha Mohammed (down): From powerful reporter and political advisor to the invisible woman.
Minister of the Arts and Multiculturalism Winston “Gypsy” Peters (down): Family members accuse him of ignoring them; cultural activists are accusing him of not keeping promises.
Devant Maharaj (down): Hiring relatives and friends after accusing the previous government of similarly abusing their power. Questions remain as to his role in the Tunapuna Hindu School fiasco.
Ian Alleyne (sideways): Weathered a controversy that saw him briefly suspended. His survival demonstrates the strength of his popularity.
SDMS president Sat Maharaj (down): He may have made many uncomfortable with advocacy of one ethnic and religious group, but even his detractors may have been shocked at evidence of apparent outright discrimination at the SDMS-run primary school in Tunapuna.
Former Chair of the Integrity Committee Eric St. Cyr (down): Was indiscreet while holding an office that arguably calls for more discretion than any other
Former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday (up): The People’s Partnership’s fumbles gives him a possible opening to re-enter politics
Former Prime Minister Patrick Manning (sideways): Has signaled his intention to be more focal than he was for the majority of the year. We’ll see where this leads him
Opposition Leader Keith Rowley (sideways): Has caused people to wander sometimes how much he’s in control of the party; the government’s fumbles may give him an opening in the new year.
Commission of Police Dwayne Gibbs (down): Out of the country when the state of emergency was declared; the Police Service then reported an assassination plot against government officials and arrested suspect with apparently weak evidence.
Port of Spain Mayor Louis Lee Sing (down): Came into office promising major changes; forced to bow down before reality.
Police Service Director of Public Affairs Sharon Lee Assang: The friendly face of the police service, caused a minor controversy by giving wrong reporters wrong information about the state of emergency
Ken Gordon (up): In 2011 he attended the opening of a journalism school named after him and was appointed chairman of the Integrity Commission
Kamla Persad-Bissessar (sideways): Has been struggling with her own and her ministers’ missteps. Her popularity has taken a hit but remains high
Destra Garcia (down): Disappointed fans by performing on the a political platform in Guyana
Diego Martin Central MP Amery Brown (up): Has been publically sticking it to the government even when it seems the rest of his Opposition colleagues are not.
Brian Lara (up): Receive a doctorate; asked that his name be disassociated from controversial infrastructural projects
Suruj Rambachan (down): Received complaints of government’s press boycott with little more than an acknowledgement that “the contents of your letter are duly noted”,
GISL CEO Andy Johnson (down): Went from being a tough interviewer to throwing softball questions at them on government programmes and protecting them from tough questions from the media
San Fernando General Hospital (down): Many reports of mothers and babies dying at the institution in 2011
Police Complaints Authority/Gillian Lucky (up): Helped keep in the public eye the story of three people with no criminal record killed by police in Moruga. Six police offices were eventually charged.
Om Lalla (down): Has defended Jack Warner and Ian Alleyne in questionable behaviour.
Caribbean Airlines Ltd (up): Despite the attempts of CEO George Nicholas III to make it seem otherwise, continues to be a loss-making enterprise
Prakash Ramadar (sideways): May have saved his himself from growing disquiet with his leadership by publically calling out the Prime Minister.
Orville London (up): Taking steps to give Tobago much longed for autonomy
Ashworth Jack (down): Has tried to put a spoke in London’s wheel but has to beat back the perception that he’s more show than substance
PSA president Watson Duke (down): Made the much maligned decision to accept the 5 percent deal from the government; the PSA is now almost non-functioning with many internal attempts to overthrow his leadership
ODPM CEO Stephen Ramroop (down): Response to continued flooding around the country criticised. Ramroop makes weak excuses
Minister of Housing Roodal Moonilal (down): No fire escapes in public housing? Really?
HDC managing director Jearlean John (down): See Roodal Moonilal
Minister of Child, Youth and Gender Development Verna St Rose Greaves (down): Makes spurious and potentially inflammatory claims in the Senate about rapists spreading HIV
Minister of Planning Bhoe Tewarie (down): Attempted to pacify trade unions and failed
Minister of Labour Errol Mcleod (down): Continues to be criticised by former union colleagues about lack of reaction to union disputes
Arima Mayor Ghassan Youseph (up): Saves his year by listening to burgesses and replacing Dial
