14 Ministers Appointed as Cabinet Fully Constituted After Landslide Election Win
Antigua and Barbuda’s new Cabinet was fully constituted on Tuesday, with 14 ministers—including the Prime Minister and Attorney General—formally appointed and issued instruments of office following the April 30 general election, in which the governing party secured 15 of the 17 seats.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne and Attorney General Sir Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin, who were sworn in over the weekend, received their instruments assigning portfolios during the ceremony at the American University of Antigua. The remaining ministers took their oaths of allegiance, office and secrecy before Governor General Sir Rodney Williams, completing the constitutional process.
Under the Constitution, the Prime Minister holds all ministerial authority and assigns portfolios to members of Parliament, noting that the ceremony also marked the use of updated oaths approved earlier this year.
Ministers will have wide-ranging responsibilities under each ministry for oversight of key institutions and national programmes. These include the Antigua Public Utilities Authority and digital transformation under the ICT and Energy portfolio, infrastructure, housing and roadworks under Housing and Works, and education systems including the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus under the Education ministry.
The Ministry of Health was highlighted as covering the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre, public health services, environmental management and civil service administration, while the Ministry of Sports and the Creative Industries includes responsibility for national sports facilities, culture, carnival and the wider creative sector.
Among the key appointments, Michael Joseph was named Minister for Health, Wellness, Environment and Civil Service Affairs, and Dwayne George was appointed Minister for Sports and the Creative Industries, both portfolios expected to have a direct impact on public services and national development.
Other ministers include E.P. Chet Greene (Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration), Charles “Max” Fernandez (Tourism, Civil Aviation, Transportation and Investment), Melford Nicholas (Information, Communication Technologies, Utilities and Energy), Maria Vanessa Browne (Housing and Works), Daryll Matthew (Education, Science and Technology), Anthony Smith Jr. (Agriculture, Lands and the Blue Economy), and Rawdon Turner (Social and Urban Transformation).
Three Ministers of State were also appointed to support key portfolios: Randy St. Clair Baltimore (Agriculture), Michael Freeland (Tourism), and Kiz Johnson (Social and Urban Transformation).
A Deputy Speaker is yet to be appointed, with Dr. Philmore Benjamin, St. Mary’s North MP, expected to be nominated for the role.
It was also announced that Senators will be sworn in on Friday at 10 a.m. at Government House, as the full parliamentary structure is finalized.
Governor General Williams urged the newly appointed ministers to serve with integrity and unity, reminding them that public office is “a duty to be discharged” in the interest of all citizens.
A Cabinet meeting is expected to follow as the administration begins its new term.
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