I feel satisfied, it has been a long haul. I have been in Parliament since 1989.

If you listen to the prime minister, you will understand from her utterances that the areas related to poverty alleviation are very high on her agenda and I believe that this will be among the things that she would want to focus on.

I will have to meet with the officials in the ministry and to take direction from the prime minister to see what she wants to be her focus. It is not my focus; it is what her focus is and that of the entire Cabinet.

I was not surprised at being asked to serve at that level because I am one of the most senior persons in Parliament. I have held several posts in the government before and I believe that I have done a good job.

I am not campaigning for any candidate but I will be voting.

Well, I found out after I'd resigned from the parliament that he rang a mate of mine in advance of that to say I should get out,