NDP protest action fails to stop swearing in

Members of the new Cabinet of the Unity Labour Party (ULP) administration were sworn into office yesterday, despite hours of protest on the streets of Kingstown by the New Democratic Party (NDP).

The new Cabinet was announced and sworn in at Heritage Square where hundreds of Unity Labour Party (ULP) supporters gathered to show {{more}}support to the Government they elected for the fourth consecutive term.

Ralph Gonsalves remains Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, National Security, Legal Affairs, Grenadines Affairs and the Public Service.

Sir Louis Straker’s comeback has seen him being given responsibility as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Regional Integration.

Montgomery Daniel remains as Minister of Housing, Informal Human Settlements, Lands and Surveys and Physical Planning, while Cecil McKie also remains as Minister of Tourism, Sports and Culture.

For the second time around, Saboto Caesar is Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Rural Transformation, while Frederick Stephenson continues his work as Minister of National Mobilization, Social Development, the Family, Gender Affairs, Persons with Disabilities and Youth.

Camillo Gonsalves, who in the previous administration held the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Consumer Affairs and Information Technology, is now the Minister of Economic Planning, Sustainable Development, Industry, Internal Trade, Information (public information and information communications technology) and Labour.

St Clair Jimmy Prince, who took over from Girlyn Miguel as the representative for Marriaqua, has also taken over Miguel’s former ministry, as he is now the Minister of Education, National Reconciliation and Ecclesiastical Affairs.

Luke Browne has been named senator and given the responsibility as Minister of Health, Wellness and the Environment, a ministry formerly headed by the now retired Clayton Burgin, former representative for East St George.

Julian Francis remains a senator and Minister of Transport, Works, Urban Development and Local Government.

Deborah Charles, who contested the general elections in the West Kingstown constituency, will be sworn in as a senator and is now a Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education, National Reconciliation and Ecclesiastical Affairs.

Jomo Thomas, the ULP’s South Leeward candidate and Carlos James of North Leeward are the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, respectively. James will also be sworn in as a senator.

Edwin Snagg and Herman Belmar have been re-appointed as director and deputy director respectively of the Directorate of Grenadines Affairs.

Central Kingstown’s Beresford Phillips will soon be given, according to Prime Minister Gonsalves, “an important specific appointment.”

Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony, Gonsalves said that the ULP is a party of progress, stressing that politics and policy are serious business and not part of the entertainment industry.

Gonsalves said that the Cabinet consists of 11 members, eight elected representatives and two appointed senators. “In fashioning the Cabinet, I remind everyone that only two ministerial appointments are permitted by the Constitution of St Vincent and the Grenadines from among the senators and earlier today His Excellency the Governor General, acting under section 28A of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Constitution order and upon the advice of the Prime Minister, appointed the following four persons as senators: Luke Browne, Carlos James, Deborah Charles and Julian Francis.”

The Attorney General is Judith Jones-Morgan and Sir Frederick Ballantyne remains as Governor General.

The house meets for the first time on Tuesday December 29.(LC)