KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent – After weeks of speculation, including a newspaper front-page article, and much public discussion, Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves yesterday announced a reshuffle of his Cabinet, exactly 14 months after his Unity Labour Party was re-elected to a third consecutive term in office.
In the reassignments, which are to take effect next Monday, Minister of Housing, Informal Human Settlements, Physical Planning and Land and Surveys, Clayton Burgin, will move to the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment.
Burgin, Member of Parliament for East St. George, will replace his West St. George colleague. Cecil “Ces” McKie, who has been reassigned to the Ministry of Tourism, Sports and Culture.
Saboto Caesar will become Minister of Agriculture, Industry, Forestry, Fisheries and Rural Transformation, replacing Montgomery Daniel.
Daniel will be reassigned to the Ministry of Housing, Informal Human Settlement, Lands and Surveys and Physical Planning.
The country’s minister for social affairs, Frederick Stephenson, is set to lose the sports and culture portfolios which are to be assigned to the tourism ministry.
Parliamentary Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office, Senator Elvis Charles will have special responsibility for sports and culture as he becomes Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism.
“You will note that the portfolio shifts are Industry to the Ministry of Agriculture, and Sports and Culture to the Ministry of Tourism,” Gonsalves said in announcing the reshuffle.
Stephenson will remain Minister of National Mobilization, Social Development, the Family, Persons with Disabilities and Youth. (CMC)