Prime Minister Gaston Browne Friday unveiled an eight member Cabinet that was sworn into office following Wednesday’s nail-biting general election that resulted in his ruling Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) being returned to office for a third consecutive occasion, but with a drastically reduced majority.
“I am not a fan of bringing individuals through the Senate to serve as ministers. I believe it is important to pay attention to the quality of the candidates who the people elect and who could also serve as ministers,” Browne told reporters at the swearing in ceremony.
The ABLP won the general election by a 9-8 margin, down from the comfortable 15-2 majority it had enjoyed in the last Parliament.
Apart from the main opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) winning six seats-five more than it previously had- another successful candidate was Asot Michael, a former government minister who fell out with Prime Minister Browne and was prevented from contesting the St. Peter constituency on a ticket of the ruling party. Michael, who had been the parliamentary representative for the area over the past four general elections, won the seat as an independent candidate.
Browne told reporters that the government ministers who lost their seats in the general election, their portfolios have been consolidated among the eight new cabinet members with the veteran Sir Robin Yearwood, agreeing to serve as a government backbencher. He had held the position of senior minister in the last administration.
‘What we tried to do is to ensure that there were synergies within the respective consolidation that took place. For example, housing and works, the obvious synergy is there, even agriculture and trade.
“So I think we have achieved that and I am confident that even though the team is smaller that we will have a far more responsive team and the people of Antigua and Barbuda in essence will get from less,” he said.
Prime Minister Browne said in addition, Sir Robin, who has served as a representative for St. Phillip’s North since 1978, will also be appointed deputy speaker in keeping with the provisions of the Antigua and Barbuda Constitution where “one of us had to serve as the deputy speaker.
Browne said the government’s agenda going forward will also be informed by the results of the general election, particularly in the area of the delivery of water.
The following is the list of the members of the Cabinet.
Gaston Browne- Prime Minister, Minister for Finance, Corporate Governance and Public Private Partnership.
Steadroy Benjamin –Attorney General and Minister for Legal Affairs, Public Safety, Immigration and Labour.
Sir Molwyn Joseph –Minister of Health, Wellness, Social Transformation and the Environment.
Paul Chet Green – Minister of Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Trade and Barbuda Affairs.
Henry Charles Fernandez –Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Transportation, and Investment.
Melford Nicholas – Minister for Information, Communication Technologies, Information (ICT), Utilities and Energy.
Maria Browne – Minister for Housing, Works, Land and Urban Renewal.
Daryll Mathew- Minister for Education, Creative Industries and Sport.
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
The prime minister of Antigua & Barbuda is a scared chicken right now. Not only is he apprehensive about the make-up of the new parliament, but also scared stiff about pending situations relating human trafficking via Antigua Airways and the saga regarding the Mehul Choksi case with INTERPOL involvement.
The PM speaks about simmering down his usual rhetoric and beginning to act statesman-like. These are clear indications that he is under undue pressure from international forces that are carefully observing the dangerous activities that has engulfed Antigua & Barbuda over the last eight years.
It is also quite likely that the electorate may be called upon to go back to the polls again in a general elections sooner than expected. The ABLP younger members may begin to see the green light that leadership in its present form is NOTHING BUT A TRAGIC DISASTER…HAPPENED, HAPPENING AND ABOUT TO EXPLODE EVEN WORSE. They need to throw the “Jonah” over board to save the ship. Obsti said it nicely: ” Drive out all the flunkies and save the labor party.” The main flunky is the top dag. A natural disaster to the party and the nation.
There is NO Way Antigua & Barbuda can survive another 5 years with this type of leadership..or rather let me say ” Misleadership.”
Food security will be a Big ISSUE in 2023. No way can this present administration steer this highly dependent nation during the worsening food crisis when it has proven that even within good times, it cannot take proper stewardship.
The parliament as is currently constituted will be of major interest. Debates should be robust. Maybe some fist fights as we see in African countries and Asian countries parliaments. The top dag will no longer get away with the usual lies and deceptions as have been common in the last eight years.
On another note, it is amazing how the people of Antigua & Barbuda have reelected such corrupt government again. It only goes to prove that the heart of man is just wicked and evil. Morality has been thrown through the window. A people gets the government it deserves and hence will suffer the negative consequences.
Antiguans: Misleaders and people: your time is at hand. The hand writing is pellucidly before you. You have chosen to continue in the EVIL.
Destruction lies at your door and it will be swift.
WORLD “CRYSIS”: YOUR END SOON COME !
GASTON BROWNE,YOU GAVE IMMIGRATION BACK TO CUTIE.REMEMBER THE TIME HE HELD THAT PORTFOLIO.THERE WAS A SYRIAN HUMAN TRAFFICKING RING IN ANTIGUA.THAT WAS SAID BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE IN THE U.S. CONGRESS.YOU HAD TO RELIEVE HIM OF THAT PORTFOLIO.NOW YOU ARE GIVING IT BACK TO HIM AGAIN? IS IT A CREATIVE ENRICHMENT SCHEME IN PLAY,IN IMMIGRATION?
One of the biggest surprises was the win by Molwyn ‘AstraZeneca’ Joseph.
How on God’s green earth was this man re-elected?
Don’t Antiguans realise that whilst many countries are no longer giving the blood-clotting AstraZeneca to its citizens, Molwyn Joseph will continue to push for its use here in Antigua & Barbuda.
Further down the line, the voters who put him back in office – dare I say – will live to regret this utter madness!
MANY OF US WHO HAVE DONE THEIR DUE DILIGENCE ON ALL THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF THE VACCINES WILL BE WATCHING FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS VERY VERY CLOSELY …
There’s definately a great deal to know about this issue. I like all of the points you made.
Comments are closed.