Jamaica PM reshuffles Cabinet

Prime Minister Bruce Golding has kicked Senator Dorothy Lightbourne from his Cabinet as Minister of Justice and Attorney General, and split the two roles, in a reshuffle announced last night.

Senator Lightbourne, who had been severely criticized for her handling of the US request for the extradition of reputed gang leader Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke, is being replaced by House Speaker Delroy Chuck as Minister of Justice.

He, however, will not function as Attorney General.

“The position of Attorney-General will be separated from that of Minister of Justice in keeping with the recommendations of the recently concluded Commission of Enquiry. A further announcement will be made concerning the appointment of a new Attorney General,” the government statement said.

Christopher Tufton will move from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, replacing Karl Samuda who reportedly opted out of the Cabinet after being offered another position.

Robert Montague, who is currently the minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Local Government, will lead the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to fill the void left by Tufton’s move.

Clive Mullings returns to the Cabinet as Minister of Energy and Mining, replacing James Robertson who resigned last month after revealing that his US visa had been cancelled.

Prime Minister Golding also revealed that Arthur Williams will be appointed as minister without portfolio in the Cabinet Office with responsibility for the Public Service. He is currently state minister in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, has been promoted to minister without portfolio in the Cabinet Office with responsibility for the public service.

Golding said Williams’ appointment is in keeping with the recommendation of the Public Sector Transformation Unit.

The Prime Minister also announced the appointment of three junior ministers – Gregory Mair, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education; Dr. St. Aubyn Bartlett, Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security; and Othniel Lawrence, Minister of State in the Ministry of Transport and Works. They will replace Ronald Robinson, Everald Warmington and Aundre Franklin.

In addition to her current duties as Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister,

Shahine Robinson will also assume the responsibility for Local Government previously held by Montaque.

The appointments take effect from Friday, and will coincide with the reassignment of subjects, departments and agencies based on the recommendations of the Public Sector Master Rationalization Plan developed by the Public Sector Transformation Unit and approved by the Cabinet, the government statement said.

“That includes the transfer of responsibility for the public sector from the Ministry of Finance to the Cabinet Office and the redesignation of the Ministry of Water and Housing as the Ministry of Housing, Environment and Water,” it continued, adding that the ministry would be headed by Dr. Horace Chang.

The new Ministers will be sworn in at today at 3 p.m.

As for the vacancy left by the House Speaker’s promotion to the Ministry of Justice, Golding said that Marissa Dalrymple-Phillipbert will be proposed for election as Speaker of the House and Tarn Peralto as Deputy Speaker.

Source: Caribbean360