Finance Minister Eugene Cox also talked a little with the Royal Gazette about his personal life:

What person would you most like to send Season's Greetings to?

"I am Eugene Cox, married for 46 years and apart from sending my wife cards and flowers on her birthday, in our family we would probably want to bestow it on my sister Mary Elizabeth Darrell, my one remaining sibling. We have always been very close and I would say if there was to be any person outside of the household, keeping in mind my status, I would want to send my sister some special treat."

Did you get what you wanted for Christmas?

"Yes, I really wanted a new computer, not at work, but for home. I can say that I have got my wish in that I will be getting a Mac laptop, this has been presented to me by my wife and the rest of the family. They spoil me, but I like it."

Any New Year's resolutions?

"Eight years ago, I gave a speech when retiring from my professional job and I spoke of an old Chinese proverb which says "In the garden, under the cherry tree, there is rest."

I think I have picked out that spot in my garden at home, but I have been short on the rest, or time for rest so my wish for the New Year is to spend a little more time in the garden. My wife loves flowers and plants, both indoors and outdoors, maybe I will be an assistant to her, if I can be home more than I am away. So, I would say my wish is to spend some more time under the cherry tree getting some rest, and doing gardening around the house.

Won't that be difficult task to find that time, given you said you don't know what is coming in terms of the economy?

True, but we all make wishes and we hope to keep them, but sometimes things dictate otherwise. But, it is my wish to try and grab back some time to spend with my family, and my wife in particular.

So, this does not indicate that you plan to retire, in the near future, as finance minister?

I certainly want to continue to do whatever I can to support the Government. I have worked long and hard to get the point to where we run the Government, and I would not want to jeopardise any successes that we might have. The country does come first, and I guess we put ourselves after that. I am in this position at the Premier's pleasure anyhow. But, at present I have no immediate plans to step down. That needs to be out there.