Scramble to tell who's who
It was chaotic, but full of excitement at Government House yesterday afternoon when the newly appointed ministers gathered to prepare themselves and rehearse for the swearing-in ceremony before His Majesty the King at Chitralada Royal Villa.
In front of the Santi Maitri building, where the ministers gathered, reporters used collections of newspaper photographs to tell who was who among ministers they'd never seen. And when newspaper portraits failed to clearly identify them, they consulted the drivers of their cars. Having the same problem, police officers at Government House asked reporters who each minister was, and the licence plate number of their cars. In the midst of the identity crisis, Science and Technology Minister Yongyuth Yuthavong pointed to his grey hair and denied dying it black. "If I coloured my hair, I would look like someone else. Anyway, you called us an 'ageing Cabinet', didn't you?" he said. Culture Minister Khunying Khaisri Sri-aroon accepted that she was among the oldest ministers at 69. The Cabinet's oldest member is 72-year-old Education Minister Wijit Srisa-an. PM's Office Minister Thirapat Serirangsan quipped that people couldn't call it an "ageing Cabinet" unless the combined ages of all members was at least 2,000 years. At 51, and the youngest member of Cabinet, he could afford to make light of the age issue. Thirapat arrived with his foster mother, who gave him a garland and kissed his cheek as he left the car. Agriculture Minister Thira Sutabutra came with his son, while Deputy Interior Minister Banyat Jansena arrived with his wife. She waited for him at the Banchakarn building while he went to the swearing-in ceremony. Most of the ministers arrived smiling and in good humour, although others tried to avoid the waiting media. Tourism and Sports Minister Suvit Yodmani set the afternoon's record with 20-minute talk with reporters. He showed he had done his homework by discussing estimated tourist numbers in the coming year. The 26 Cabinet members gradually arrived at the Government House reception room in the Santi Maitree Building from 2pm. Information and Communications Technology Minister Sitthichai Pookaiyaudom was the first to arrive, while Finance Minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula was the last. After rehearsing the ceremony, the new Cabinet gathered in front of the Thai Koo Fah building before leaving Government House in three buses at 4.20pm.
Piyanart Srivalo The Nation
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