Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has announced a reshuffle of Cabinet and merging of some portfolios to create two new Ministries.
The two Ministries are Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, headed by Hon. Floyd Green, with Minister of State, Hon. Franklin Witter; and the Ministry of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport, led by Hon. Daryl Vaz, with Minister of State, Hon. JC Hutchinson.
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The new Minister of Labour and Social Security is Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., following the resignation of Hon. Karl Samuda.
Minister Charles Jr. will be supported by Dr. the Hon. Norman Dunn, who assumes the role of Minister of State.
“This Ministry will require significant transformations… [including] a transformation of the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) programme,” the Prime Minister said, during a press conference on Monday (May 22).
He noted that the “digitisation of social welfare and conditional transfer services” is a key focus of the Ministry.
Additionally, newly appointed Senator, Dr. Dana Morris Dixon will assume the role of Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister and will have direct oversight for Skills and Digital Transformation.
Prime Minister Holness informed that she will be responsible for liaising with the private sector and the HEART/NSTA Trust to address skill gaps.
“The private sector is crying regarding the availability of skilled labour. It is now becoming a constraint on our growth, and so we need to pay attention to [making] sure that we’re training people to be job-ready, not just for the skills of the past but more so the skills of the future that will drive growth in the economy,” Mr. Holness said.
Other changes announced by the Prime Minister include the appointment of Hon. Marsha Smith as Minister of State in the Ministry of Education and Youth; Hon. Alando Terrelonge is the new Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade; Hon. Zavia Mayne, State Minister in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service; and Hon. Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn, State Minister in the Ministry of National Security.
Listing of the reshuffled Cabinet
Prime Minister: Andrew Holness
Office of the Prime Minister:
Robert Nesta Morgan, Minister without Portfolio
Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon – Minister without Portfolio
Homer Davis – Minister of State
Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation: Andrew Holness
C. Everald Warmington – Minister without Portfolio
Matthew Samuda – Minister without Portfolio
Ministry of National Security:
Deputy Prime Minister Dr Horace Chang,
Juliet Cuthbert- Flynn – Minister of State
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining:
Floyd Green
Franklin Witter – Minister of State
Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport: Olivia Grange
Ministry of Education and Youth:
Fayval Williams
Marsha Smith – Minister of State
Ministry of Finance and the Public Service:
Dr Nigel Clarke
Zavia Mayne – Minister of State
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade: Senator Kamina Johnson Smith
Alando Terrelonge – Minister of State
Ministry of Health and Wellness:
Dr Christopher Tufton
Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce: Senator Aubyn Hill
Ministry of Justice:
Delroy Chuck
Ministry of Legal and Constitutional Affairs:
Marlene Malahoo Forte
Ministry of Local Government and Community Development:
Desmond McKenzie
Ministry of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport:
Daryl Vaz
William J.C. Hutchinson – Minister of State
Ministry of Tourism:
Edmund Bartlett
Ministry of Labour and Social Security:
Pearnel Charles Jr.
Norman Dunn – Minister of State
