Ministry And Ministers To Be Given More Power

[george]

Ministry to be given more power

BANGKOK: -- The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry will become a “Grade A” ministry, with the power to regulate the use of natural resources, following the new round of reforms.

A source at a meeting of government agencies on the reform of economic ministries held yesterday, said the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry would become a regulator in the use of natural resources, as well as mapping regulations on how to rehabilitate exploited resources.

The reform, which has yet to be approved by the Cabinet, would also clearly separate the power and responsibilities of the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry from the Agriculture Ministry.

Finance Minister Somkid Jatusripitak chaired the meeting. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Somkid said the Agriculture Ministry would be improved in its responsibilities to help farmers increase sales and production capacities.

He said the Agriculture Ministry’s name would be changed to the Agriculture and Foods Ministry and would consist of five divisions with distinct responsibilities including a division in charge of development, another in charge of standards and one to register patents for agricultural products.Somkid said Agriculture Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan and her deputy Newin Chidchob had yet to discuss with the Public Sector Development Commission details of how to reform the ministry.

Thossaporn Sirisamphan, secretary-general of the Office of the Public Sector Development Commission, said the Agriculture Ministry would have new independent agencies, possibly free from government red tape, which would handle the sales of main agricultural products.

Somkid said the Industry and Commerce ministries would also merge as part of the reform. He said the two ministries would discuss the merger’s details with the Public Sector Development Commission and that discussions should be complete within a month.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet will consider four-year operational plans for all ministries at tomorrow’s regular Cabinet meeting.

A Government House source said PM’s Office Minister Suranand Vejjajiva would present the overall picture of the operational plans to the meeting.

Then, a deputy prime minister in charge of groups of ministries would present the overall strategies of their groups before each minister in charge would present the operational plan for his or her particular ministry, the source said.

He said Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had divided responsibilities into eight groups:

1. Tackling poverty, headed by Deputy Prime Minister General Chidchai Vanasatidya.

2. Human and social quality development, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Chaturon Chaisang.

3. Restructuring to boost competitiveness, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak.

4. Natural resources and environment management, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Pinij Charusombat.

5 Foreign affairs and foreign economies, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai.

6 Legal development and good governance, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Vishanu Krua-ngam.

7 Democracy and social participation, headed by Suranand.

8 National security development, headed by Chidchai.

--The Nation 2005-06-06