Cabinet ministers sworn in; Minister of Legal and Constitional Affairs out

 

Cabinet ministers were sworn in Wednesday afternoon, with the body largely unchanged from the previous administration.

 

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness is Minister of Defence and Minister of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development.

 

The Ministry of National Security will remain under the oversight of Dr. Horace Chang, who is also Deputy Prime Minister.

 

Fayval Williams will continue as Minister of Finance and the Public Service. 

 

Robert Montague, the former Minister of Transport and Mining from 2018 to 2022, makes a comeback to the Cabinet after being a backbencher in Parliament for the last three years. He now takes on the role of Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development responsible for Land Titling and Settlements.  

 

Dr. Andrew Wheatley - who was last a member of the Cabinet from 2016 to 2018 as Minister of Science, Technology and Mining - has returned in a similar capacity as Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister responsible for Science, Technology and Special Projects. 

 

Ambassador Audrey Marks, another Minister without Portfolio in the OPM, has been given responsibility for Efficiency, Innovation and Digital Transformation, while Minister without Portfolio Robert Morgan will continue to be responsible for Works within that super ministry.

 

While almost all other ministries and their portfolio ministers remain the same as in the last administration, there is notably no Marlene Malahoo Forte in the Cabinet, neither is there a Ministry of Legal and Constitutional Affairs. That ministry had been responsible for the country's push towards constitutional reform and becoming a republic.  

 

Matthew Samuda will resume his work on Water, Environment and Climate Change, which is now its own ministry, moving out of the former Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation. 

 

Three senators - Kamina Johnson Smith, Aubyn Hill and Dr. Dana Morris Dixon - retained their previous portfolios of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade; Industry, Investment and Commerce; as well as Education, Skills, Youth and Information. 

 

In his charge to the ministers, Prime Minister Holness said they will all have clear targets and will be held accountable for meeting them, stressing that the ministers will be "judged by outcomes not announcements; by results not rhetoric". 

 

He warned against arrogance, noting that this "blinds us to the needs of the people we serve, and distances us from the humility that leadership demands".

 

"Let us lead with integrity, humilty and discipline," he urged, "knowing that every action strengthens or weakens the trust that sustains us. Remember, corruption and arrogance are the quickest way to arm our enemies and disarm the people of their trust in us." 

 

 

 

1) Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Minister of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development – Dr. the Most Honourable Andrew Holness

 

2) Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister responsible for Efficiency, Innovation and Digital Transformation – Ms. Audrey Marks

 

3) Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister responsible for Science, Technology and Special Projects – Mr. Andrew Wheatley

 

4) Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development responsible for Land Titling and Settlements  – Mr. Robert Montague

 

5) Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development with responsibility for Works – Mr. Robert Morgan

 

6) Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security and Peace - Dr. Horace Chang

 

7) Minister of Finance and the Public Service – Mrs. Fayval Williams

 

8) Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sport - Ms. Olivia Grange

 

9) Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade – Senator Kamina Johnson Smith

 

10) Minister of Tourism – Mr. Edmund Bartlett

 

11) Minister of Health and Wellness – Dr. Christopher Tufton

 

12) Minister of Justice – Mr. Delroy Chuck

 

13) Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information – Senator Dana Morris Dixon

 

14) Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce – Senator Aubyn Hill

 

15) Minister of Local Government and Rural Development – Mr. Desmond McKenzie

 

16) Minister of Labour and Social Security – Mr. Pearnel Charles Jr.

 

17) Minister of Transport, Telecommunications and Energy – Mr. Daryl Vaz

 

18) Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining – Mr. Floyd Green

 

19) Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change – Mr. Matthew Samuda