Exclusive Interview…. Dr Drew surprised Dr Natta

NEW CABINET SECRETARY DR. MARCUS NATTA ADMITTED MONDAY HE NEVER PICTURED HIMSELF in the key government post and was stunned when Prime Miniter, Dr Terrance Drew announced him as the choice.

“I can’t lie and say that role was one that I had envisioned myself doing, or thought about,” Dr Natta acknowledged Monday during an exclusive with  www.aroundtheregions.com following the traditional swearing-in ceremony.

“But when he (Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew) expressed that confidence in me, I went and researched (the job description of the Cabinet Secretary) and seriously thought about it. Frankly it was a surprising gesture by the Prime Minister to think of me to serve in such a role,” Natta recalled.

The 40-year-old chemical engineer replaced his predecessor, Ms. Josephine Huggins, who was twice his age.

Though still in a bit of wonderment Monday while musing on PM’s Drew’s choice and steadfast belief in him, Natta during the interview admitted his glee that the newly-elected PM “had the confidence and trust in my capabilities to appoint me into this position.”

“It has given me lots of confidence. Not that I was lacking per se, but with his backing it has really helped to propel my decision because I am really stepping out of the realm (of my comfort zone which is in the natural sciences). However, over the years, I would have garnered a lot of other experiences in various other fields, so I know for sure that I can support him in this role to achieve their objectives,” Dr Natta explained.

Dr. Natta is the youngest person in the 39-year-old twin-island Federation to ever hold the senior government post. This too has helped stir his passion and excite his motivation to serve to the best of his ability to back-up and justify PM Drew’s decision.

While on the campaign hustings, then prime-ministerial-candidate Drew promised to recruit young people to serve in the St Kitts and Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) administration. Dr Natta Monday held this up as another fulfilment among the other promises kept by the PM since his accession to office less than three weeks ago.

“If you look at the cabinet composition that Prime Minister Dr. Drew has put together, and if you look at the fact that he has appointed me as Cabinet Secretary, you will certainly see that he is serious about young people being included in the leadership of the country as well.”

“He is also working on the issue of gender balance (for senior positions in the government structure), so I think he is working to create a model for other countries within our region to emulate,” the new Cabinet Secretary said during Monday’s telephone interview.

He continued: “While we are starting to see in other countries greater efforts being made to create gender and youth-related balance, you are seeing a greater effort as St. Kitts and Nevis is doing an excellent job at the gender balance and inclusion of young people in the leadership of the country.”

He plans working to change public perception about the role of the cabinet secretary; ensuring the Labour government fulfils the covenant it brokered with the electorate in the eight constituencies during the elections campaign which is detailed in its manifesto; and always keep the government’s agenda firmly on the Cabinet’s front burner.

“I think there is need to revolutionise the cabinet secretary’s portfolio. I believe that it is being seen solely as administrative sort of position, but in conversations with the Prime Minister he is looking at it on doing more in terms of policies and guidance on vital issues,” Dr Natta explained.

“Also, one of the key things is that the cabinet secretary really needs to ensure that the agenda, the pledges that were made for example in the manifesto are met. Of course, ministers have to execute these things, but the cabinet secretary plays a key role because that person should always ensure that they have the agenda (always) before the cabinet while having a key eye on what was pledged and promised to the country…that those two things are in sync.”

“At the end of the five-year term when the government may not have achieved all that is in the manifesto, they can check back and look and see that we have achieved quite a large percentage of what we had promised to the country…and the cabinet secretary plays a part in terms of managing and coordinating the permanent secretaries (PS’)” to help fulfil the government’s development plan., Dr Natta noted.