Nelson, Shaw Sworn Into Office

KINGSTON — Two Ministers were re-appointed to critical areas of governance during a brief ceremony at King's House today (October 24).

Senator the Hon. Dwight Nelson and Hon. Audley Shaw, were sworn in as Minister of National Security and Minister of Finance, respectively, by Governor General, His Excellency, the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen.

The Governor General said he was confident that the Ministers would continue to carry out their duties with unwavering commitment and resilience and charged them to work with Prime Minister, the Hon. Andrew Holness “in charting a positive path that will imprint on the books of history."

Explaining the decision to re-appoint Ministers Nelson and Shaw so quickly, Prime Minister Holness said that it was a practical and strategic move as “you can’t have any gaps at all in the administration of Government”.

Of great importance, he said, is the fact that the Minister of Finance has several meetings that he needs to attend to immediately.

He noted that the remaining Cabinet members will be announced shortly, and appointed before the end of the week.

Minister Shaw told journalists following the ceremony that he was pleased with his re-appointment, noting that it was “a continuation of very important work that I have been doing over the past four years."

Minister Nelson said he was also happy and eager to get back to work to address “very pressing” issues.

He noted that the country had been without a Minister of National Security for the past 24 hours and there are some very critical procedures and operations by the police that, by law, have to be approved and authorised by the Minister.

“I am very anxious that the police can get back to work as quickly as possible under the authority of the Minister of National Security,” he said.

Minister Nelson said he was particularly concerned about the increase in robberies and shootings and assured that he was working with the police to develop new strategies to address those challenges.

By Alecia Smith, JIS Reporter