KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller Friday named a 19-member Cabinet less than 24 hours after she took the oath as the seventh head of government in Jamaica.
After a delay of more than one hour, the 19 new Cabinet members were sworn by Governor General Sir Patrick Allen at a ceremony at Kings House, his official residence.
The Cabinet consists of some members who had served in the 2006-7 government when Prime Minister Simpson-Miller first headed a government here.
They include former national security minister Dr Peter Phillips who will now head the Ministry of Finance, while the former finance minister, Dr Omar Davies goes to the Ministry of Transport and Works.
Peter Bunting is the new Minister of National Security, while Roger Clarke is the Minister of Agriculture.
The Minister of Health is Fenton Ferguson, while talk show host Deacon Ronnie Thwaites is the new Minister of Education.
The new Cabinet which is bigger than the previous Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) of Andrew Holness, also includes Lisa Hannah as the Youth and Culture Minister, Robert Pickersfull, the Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change with Anthony Hylton as the Minister of Industry and Commerce.
Derrick Kellier has been named Minister of Labour and Social Security, while Noel Arscott will head Local Government with Wykeham McNeil as the Minister of Ministry of Tourism.
Former government minister Phillip Paulwell is in charge of the Mining , Energy and Technology ministry while Dr. Morais Guy is the Minister of Housing.
Horace Dalley will serve as Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister and Mark Golding is the new Minister of Justice.
