Hon. Derrick Kellier Appointed Minister of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security
By: October 7, 2014 ,The Key Point:
The Facts
- The appointment gives Minister Kellier permanent portfolio responsibility for Agriculture and Fisheries in addition to his responsibility for Labour and Social Security.
- The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security will continue to be designated as separate Ministries within the Government under the guidance of the Minister and Minister of State.
The Full Story
Prime Minister the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller has announced that on her recommendation, Governor General the Most Honourable Sir Patrick Allen has appointed Hon. Derrick Kellier as Minister of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security with immediate effect. The appointment gives Minister Kellier permanent portfolio responsibility for Agriculture and Fisheries in addition to his responsibility for Labour and Social Security.
Minister Kellier will be assisted by Hon. Luther Buchanan, who has been assigned as Minister of State for Agriculture, Labour and Social Security. In his new assignment, Minister Buchanan will retain responsibility for Rural Development, one of his areas of Ministerial duty while he was Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security will continue to be designated as separate Ministries within the Government under the guidance of the Minister and Minister of State.
In making the announcement, Prime Minister Simpson Miller noted that agriculture remains one of the key growth areas within the Government’s economic programme and said the portfolio will continue to receive focused attention at the Ministerial, technical and operational levels.
Meanwhile, Minister Kellier will represent the Government of Jamaica at the Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA) being held in Paramaribo, Suriname from October 6-12 in collaboration with the Caribbean Community Secretariat. During the week, farmers, youth and women in agriculture, policy-makers, experts in the field of agriculture and other stakeholders, will participate in activities aimed at charting the Caribbean region’s path in the important sector. The CWA activities include a special meeting of CARICOM’s Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) and discussions involving regional agriculture organisations such as the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), and the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism.