PM Indicates Further Cabinet Changes

KINGSTON — Prime Minister, the Hon Andrew Holness, has indicated that there will be further changes to his Cabinet, and that those adjustments will be planned and implemented, seamlessly.

"We will be mentoring our young and those who will be coming in” Mr. Holness said at the swearing in of the Ministers at King's House on Tuesday (October 25).

Providing justification for retaining the majority of the members of the previous cabinet, he emphasized, "We must respect experience."

He observed that while public opinion has indicated that Jamaicans want decisive, meaningful and quick action and, therefore, there was a “limited learning curve”, change without chaos was the desired option.

The reshuffle and new appointments, he said, reflected "the hardworking, the innovative and the new direction I would like to steer the country".

Mr. Holness retained the Education portfolio, in addition to being head of the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and Minister of Defence, while Hon. Delroy Chuck has been retained as Minister of Justice, but with the additional responsibility of leader of the House of Representatives, succeeding Mr. Holness.

Other changes include: former Information Minister, Hon Daryl Vaz, being sworn in as Minister without Portfolio in the OPM, with responsibility for Telecommunications and Public Sector Efficiency; Senator, the Hon Arthur Williams, former Minister without Portfolio in the OPM for the Public Service, is now in charge of Information, as well; State Minister, Hon Shahine Robinson, has been promoted to the Cabinet as a Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Housing, Environment, Water and Local Government, with responsibility for Local Government.

With respect to the significant change reflected in the promotion of StateMinister, Hon Shahine Robinson to the cabinet, as a Minister without Portfolio, the Prime Minister explained that the intention of his administration was to start the process of creating a “super ministry” of sustainable development in the future.

Senator, the Hon Warren Newby, who was a Parliamentary Secretary in the previous administration, has been promoted to Minister of State in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture. The planning portfolio, which previously resided in the OPM, has been returned to the Ministry of Finance. 

The Prime Minister told the audience at King's House, Tuesday, that adjusting the new Cabinet was never a simple exercise as there was no room for error.

SUMMARY OF CABINET CHANGES

Hon. Andrew Holness, Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, retains the Education portfolio.

Hon. Delroy Chuck, in addition to being named Minister of Justice, is now Leader of Government Business.

Hon. Shahine Robinson is now Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Housing, Environment and Water, with responsibility for Local Government in that Ministry.

Hon. Arthur Williams has been appointed Minister without Portfolio with responsibility for Public Service and Information.

Hon. Daryl Vaz, former minister with responsibility for Information, is now Minister without Portfolio with responsibility for Telecommunications and Public-sector Efficiency.

Hon Warren Newby, former Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture has been promoted to Minister of State in that Ministry.

By Allan Brooks, JIS Senior Reporter