Cabinet Changes April 6 2009

  PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCES CABINET CHANGES

The Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding, has announced the following changes to the Cabinet:

Senator the Hon. Dwight Nelson               Minister of National Security

Hon. James Robertson, M.P.                      Minister of Energy and Mining

Hon. Olivia Grange, M.P.                            Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture

Hon. Daryl Vaz M.P.                                    Minister without Portfolio

(Office of the Prime Minister)

The subjects of Information and Telecommunications which, hitherto, were part of the former Ministries of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports and Mining and Telecommunications, respectively, have been transferred to the Office of the Prime Minister and will be directly overseen by the Hon. Daryl Vaz who will continue to have responsibility for special projects within the Office of the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister has conveyed his appreciation to Mr. Derrick Smith, Mr. Clive Mullings and Colonel Trevor MacMillan, who have tendered their resignations, for their services to the Government and nation, as former members of the Cabinet.

Senator the Hon. Don Wheby will demit office as Minister without Portfolio at the end of July. Senator Wheby had given the Prime Minister a commitment to serve in government for two years. He will be assuming a senior position within the Grace Kennedy Group of Companies with which he has had a long association.   His services will, however, continue to be available to the government in an advisory capacity and for such assignments as are compatible with his private sector status.

The Hon. Andrew Holness, Minister of Education, has been appointed Leader of the House of Representatives.

The Ministry of Agriculture has been re-designated the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

The full Cabinet, as newly constituted, will be as follows:

Hon. Bruce Golding                     Prime Minister (Defence, Planning and          

                                                   Development, Information and

                                                   Telecommunications)

The Hon. Dr Kenneth Baugh       Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade

Hon. Audley Shaw                       Minister of Finance and the Public Service

Senator the Hon. Dorothy Lighbourne        Attorney General and Minster of Justice

Hon. Karl Samuda                        Minister of Industry, Investment and   Commerce

Senator the Hon. Dwight Nelson Minister of National Security

Hon. Andrew Holness                  Minister of Education, Leader of the House and Minister with responsibility for Election Matters

The Hon. Dr Horace Chang          Minister of Water and Housing

Hon. Olivia Grange                       Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture

Hon. Rudyard Spencer                 Minister of Health

Hon. Pearnel Charles                   Minister of Labour and Social Security

Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton   Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries

Hon. Edmund Bartlett                   Minister of Tourism

Hon. Michael Henry                       Minister of Transport and Works

Hon. James Robertson                  Minister of Mining and Energy

Senator the Hon. Don Wheby       Minister without Portfolio (Ministry of Finance and the Public Service)

Hon. Daryl Vaz                               Minister without Portfolio (Office of the Prime Minister)

The above changes take effect on April 6^th 2009.