01 July 2008Bahamas Reshuffle
JUAN MCCARTNEY, NG Senior ReporterPrime Minister Of The Bahamas Reshuffles His Cabinet
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham last night announced major changes to his Cabinet, confirming earlier reports by The Nassau Guardian that attorney Michael Barnett will replace Claire Hepburn both as a senator and Attorney General with responsibility for Legal Affairs, and Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace will replace Lucaya Member of Parliament Neko Grant as Minister of Tourism and Aviation.
Ingraham said Wallace will also be appointed to the Senate. He will replace former Minister of State for Immigration Elma Campbell, who Ingraham said will assume responsibility for The Bahamas Embassy in Beijing as Bahamas Ambassador to the People's Republic of China.
"I advise that Mrs. Hepburn, having served with distinction will continue her contribution to the public life of The Bahamas in another significant capacity. My government and I are grateful to Mrs. Hepburn who willingly accepted the call to service a year ago. Her service has been invaluable," Ingraham said in his address.
"My government and I are similarly indebted to Ms. Campbell who has lent her considerable administrative strength to the improvement of systems and processes in the Department of Immigration, most particularly with regard to a comprehensive audit of outstanding applications for status in our country."
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Brent Symonette, will assume responsibility for Immigration.
Branville McCartney, who had served as Minister of State for Tourism, will now serve as Minister of State for Immigration in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
The Ministry of National Security will no longer be responsible for immigration. Ingraham said the shift will "permit that ministry to concentrate on its primary focus which is the enhancement of law enforcement, crime prevention and security.
"These efforts will be complemented by the initiatives in the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs, geared toward increasing efficiencies in our judicial system," he said.
Desmond Bannister, former Minister of State in the Ministry of Legal Affairs, and a previous president of the Bahamas Amateur Athletic Association, has been appointed portfolio Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture.
Blue Hills MP Sidney Collie resigned from his post as Lands and Local Government in the House of Assembly yesterday. Following Collie's resignation, Ingraham said that portfolio has been "reallocated" to the Office of the Prime Minister.
"I assure Mr. Collie and most particularly his constituents that he continues to have a voice and influence, and he remains well-placed to ensure that the interests of the constituents of Blue Hills are recognized and attended to by the government," Ingraham said.
Pinewood MP Byran Woodside, who formerly served as Minister of State for Youth and Sports, will now serve as Minister of State or Lands and Local Government in the Office of the Prime Minister.
Ingraham also announced that two new ministries will be created, a Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and a Ministry of the Environment.
The Ministry of Lands and Local Government will be no more, according to Ingraham, who said the resulting effect is that one new ministry will be created in the government.
"The new Ministry of the Environment will have as its primary goal and objective, heightened environmental awareness through improved and effective coordination of all government departments and agencies concerned with aspects of the environment," he said.
"Our objective is to protect and conserve the environment, regulate the use of our resources and of our physical landscape, so as to improve the quality of life of citizens and reduce the damaging footprint of anti-environmental behavior. Central to this will be increased attention to city and country planning."
Former Minister of Works and Transport Earl Deveaux, who Ingraham said has "a wealth of experience and training relevant to environmental protection, conservation and sustainable use of natural resources,"
will serve as the new Minister of the Environment. He will also be responsible for Maritime Affairs, which was formerly attached to the Ministry of Labour.
Former Minister of State for Public Utilities Phenton Neymour, will now serve as Minister of State for the Environment.
Charles Maynard will continue to serve as Minister of State for Culture.
Carl Bethel will continue to serve as Minister of Education. He will also continue to have responsibility for the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute.
"The Ministry of Education is mandated to place increased emphasis on improving the academic and vocational performance of our students, and to ensure that the physical plant of the government-operated school system is properly maintained, staffed and supplied so as to facilitate student achievement," Ingraham said.
Neko Grant, who formerly served as Minister of Tourism and Aviation, will assume responsibility for the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.
Senator Dion Foulkes, who has held the post of Minister of Labour and Maritime Affairs, will assume responsibility in a reconfigured Ministry of Labour and Social Development including Urban Renewal.
Loretta Butler-Turner will serve as Minister of State of Labour and Social Development.
Ingraham said the removal of Social Development from the portfolio of the Minister of Health [Dr. Hubert Minnis] will permit that ministry to "place its primary attention on improving the delivery of healthcare services, particularly preventative care, so as to reduce the incidence of infant mortality and improve our overall health statistics."
"Additionally, attention is to be trained on the planned construction of a badly-needed new hospital," Ingraham said.
He added that portfolio responsibility for National Insurance, which was previously under the Ministry of Housing, will now move to the Ministry of Finance for which the Office of the Prime Minister has portfolio responsibility.
"I expect to give concentrated attention to the expeditious development and implementation of the National Prescription Drug Program and the development of a Catastrophic Health Insurance Program, to be administered through the apparatus of the National Insurance Board," he said.
The Ministry of Housing has been given a focused mandate to accelerate the government's housing program, concentrating on both the construction of low and medium income homes and the development for sale of fully serviced residential lots, according to Ingraham.
It was also announced that Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources Larry Cartwright will now have portfolio responsibility for Cooperatives and Credit Unions.
The new list of ministers and ministries is as follows:
1. Hubert A. Ingraham — Prime Minister & Minister of Finance
2. Brent Symonette — DPM & Foreign Affairs
3. Tommy Turnquest — National Security
4. Michael Barnett Attorney — General & Minister of Legal Affairs
5. Carl Bethel — Education
6. Kenneth Russell — Housing
7. Earl Deveaux — Environment
8. Neko Grant — Public Works & Transport
9. Larry Cartwright — Agriculture & Marine Resources
10. Hubert Minnis — Health
12. Dion Foulkes — Labour & Social Development
13. Desmond Bannister — Youth Sports & Culture
14. Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace — Tourism and Aviation
Ministers of State
1. Zhivargo Laing Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and Minister of State in the Public Service
2. Byran Woodside Minister of State for Lands & Local Government in the Office of the Prime Minister
3. Branville McCartney Minister of State for Immigration in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
4. Loretta Butler-Turner Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour and Social Development
5. Charles Maynard Minister of State for Culture in the Ministry of Youth Sports and Culture
6. Phenton Neymour Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment
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