PRIME Minister Portia Simpson Miller yesterday dismissed suggestions that Finance Minister Dr Peter Phillips had lost the confidence of his Cabinet colleagues because of the delay in signing an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

"The minister of finance and our negotiating team have the full support of the Cabinet; I hear all kinds of rumours I don't know in whose interest whether it would be in the interest of the prime minister or any member of the Cabinet not to give full support to what is taking place in the Government. We believe in joined-up Government," the prime minister told yesterday's special media briefing at Jamaica House.

According to the prime minister, a split Cabinet would be an ill-afforded liability. "Would it be in the interest of a prime minister of a country to have a divided Cabinet, would it be in the interest of a prime minister of a country not to be supportive of the minister of finance undertaking some critical role that will impact the development and growth of the country? In whose interest would it be to have a Cabinet where we are all fighting each other?" asked Simpson Miller. "Certainly not in this administration."

She added: "Only people who do not understand governance and government would believe that the Cabinet would be so deeply divided, yet in one year chalked up so many achievements."

She said members of the media should not "give credence to rumours and lies and people trying to create division".