The post of permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health has changed hands with Doerga Persaud being shifted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Sonia Roopnauth taking over.

Roopnauth, who up until Monday had held a similar portfolio at the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, had been expected to take over the position ever since the announcement of a reshuffle among permanent secretaries on June 11.

However this was never announced and Roopnauth continued to hold her original position.

On that occasion among the announcements made was that of Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Hydar Ally being moved to the Office of the President to take up the position of Deputy Head of the Presidential Secretariat.

Also announced on June 11 was the shift of Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Develop-ment, Phulander Kandhi to Labour, Human Services and Social Security to replace Mitra Devi Alli who was shifted to Legal Affairs from where Ganga Persaud had been moved to Education to replace Ally.

The Stabroek News edition of June 12, which carried the report of the shift, had also alluded to the impending shift of Doerga Persaud from the Health Ministry to the EPA.

Information Liaison to the President, Robert Persaud, yesterday confirmed the shifts, which he said were the second wave of reshuffles within the permanent secretary ranks first announced by Dr Roger Luncheon on June 11.

According to Persaud, Willet Hamilton has from July 1 been appointed to act in the capacity of permanent secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Com-merce replacing Roopnauth.

The EPA board which has the authority to name its executive director from the same date, unanimously endorsed Doerga Persaud, the information liaison also said. A release was subsequently issued by the Government Information Agency on these changes following Stabroek News’ query with the Information Liaison to the President on the changes at the Health Ministry.

Persaud has taken up the post of executive director at the EPA following the appointment of the former post holder, Bal Parsaud, as executive director of the Private Sector Commission.

Persaud who was closely involved in the establishment of the EPA and is familiar with its functioning, spent approximately three years at the Health ministry.

Stabroek News in an earlier edition had announced the impending transfer of Persaud after what was said to be differences with Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy. Ramsammy later said it was not fair to blame problems or frustrations on any one person in the ministry.