Prime Minister Bruce Golding has defended his decision to axe three persons from his Cabinet while rejecting claims that this could lead to bad blood in the ruling Jamaica Labour Party.

"Don't inject rancour where it doesn't exist," Golding declared yesterday as journalists questioned if some former ministers were being punished for a specific action or inaction.

"I'm the technical director of this team. I watch the play and switch players around to give what is the best advantage on the field at the moment," Golding said in response to a question from The Gleaner.

Golding, on Monday, requested the immediate resignations of Security Minister Colonel Trevor MacMillan, Mining and Telecom-munications Minister Derrick Smith, and Energy Minister Clive Mullings, replacing them with Dwight Nelson, Daryl Vaz and James Robertson as part of a minor Cabinet reshuffle.

With Jamaica House providing no details on the reasons for the changes, it was hoped that Golding would provide answers when he faced journalists yesterday.

But the prime minister produced the perfect bob and weave, leaving waters just as muddy after minutes of questioning.

He was adamant that the Cabinet changes were completed without bad blood.

"Clive (Mullings) and I spoke on Monday and he committed to me his continued support for the Government so there is nothing sour, there is no rancour in this."

Reshaped

That was a position shared by Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, who had information stripped from her portfolio in Monday's reshuffle.

"The Cabinet is being reshaped to meet the global challenges and I accept the changes which leaves me with a key portfolio," Grange said as she handed the baton to Vaz.