St. George’s, July 17, 2012 – Environment Minister Glynis Roberts has said that she is “bewildered’’ at suggestions that some members of cabinet had snubbed attempts at forging better relations and reconciliation among government ministers.

“I’m bewildered; I truly am,’’ Roberts said in response to remarks made recently by Senator Franka Bernadine, Minister of Education and Human Resource Development.

Bernadine, who was a guest on “Sundays With George Grant,’’ which is broadcast on radio and on the internet, said there was a refusal “to come to the table” by cabinet colleagues that critics have described as “dissidents’’ and “rebels.’’

“Efforts have been made, but as far as I can see… there has been very little attempt to meet us on the table to talk,’’ Bernadine said. “We put forward several negotiating teams; there is not a willingness to listen.’’

Roberts, who is also Minister responsible for Foreign Trade and Export Development, contradicts the version of events presented by Bernadine.

“As far I can recollect, three sessions were held with facilitators from Barbados and St. Lucia and they were attended by all cabinet ministers,’’ Roberts said in a telephone interview.

“Unless Senator Bernadine is speaking of other sessions, I remain bewildered and I’m at a lost understanding who were those who did not come to the table to try to bring about the unity and reconciliation that I have been clamouring for and which we all desire.’’

Asked whether Senator Bernadine was spreading a deliberate falsehood, Roberts said the question would best be answered by the Education Minister herself.

“I’ve come to know Senator Bernadine as a good Christian lady. It would also be unladylike of me to accuse one of my colleagues of any such thing,’’ said Roberts, MP for St. George South.