Randy Baltimore will be sworn in as Member of Parliament for St. Philip’s North on Monday following his victory in the March 16 by-election, Director General of Communications in the Prime Minister’s Office Maurice Merchant said Wednesday.
Speaking during the post-Cabinet media briefing, Merchant said Baltimore has already been appointed chairman of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHAPA) and will continue to serve as chairman of the Antigua and Barbuda Transport Board, with further appointments expected to be announced in the coming days.
Merchant said Baltimore was invited to Cabinet following his win, where he was welcomed by ministers and participated in discussions on development priorities for the constituency, including housing, infrastructure and community enhancement.
“Mr. Baltimore, who secured an overwhelming victory … was applauded … for earning the strong confidence and support of the people of St. Philip’s North,” Merchant said.
He said the engagement signaled “the beginning of a collaborative approach to advancing the social and economic priorities of that constituency.”
Prime Minister Gaston Browne also congratulated Baltimore and expressed confidence in his ability to contribute to national development and represent his constituents, Merchant said.
The Cabinet spokesman added that the by-election result reflected continued public support for the administration’s work.
“It did demonstrate that the people of St. Philip’s North saw the work that the Gaston Browne administration has been doing and rewarded them for that,” Merchant said.
Parliament is scheduled to convene Monday, when Baltimore is expected to take the oath of office as the new representative for St. Philip’s North.
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He should have a full ministry, either lands or energy sector including public utilities, shadowing former representative yearwood who held some substantive ministries, his successor must not be demoted to some abstract chairing position of boards of statutory corporations.
Corporate governance frameworks often recommend that chairpersons should be independent outsiders, not politicians, to ensure objective leadership. The habit of using elected Members of Parliament to cheer Statutory Boards doesn’t send the right message. An MP acting as chairman will face conflicts between their duty to their constituents, their party, and their fiduciary duty to the public body. This can create situations where an MP is effectively overseeing themselves.
So he has been handed all the responsibilities previously held by Robin.
He has been appointed chair of two statutory corporations.
It is an obvious dictation that he will not hold ministerial port folio.
I guess a shot was fired across the bow that no one was willing to relinquish their ministerial role for that of deputy speaker.
So, Mr Baltimore, suit up.
You already know your place.
Like your predecessor your sit is on the back bench and substitute when the fingernails man goes to the toilet.
I thought he would have given you a ministerial role and the black hair man, Sir MoleWYN, would take on the role of deputy speaker.
He has already met his best by date.
He doesn’t need more money.
Let the newly elected member feel the comfort of a ministerial seat.
I guess the perks of every month travel are just too much for the old bat to relinquish.
Gaston seems powerless on this one.
Hmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!
The three highest and most influential positions in the land are held by GB and his wife, imagine that..
If Antiguan’s are not some the most backwards people in the Carribean, then who is?
They don’t even have much say in their own island, and they keep voting for these washed up out of touch idiots and dances to the tune of an out of touch financial negotiator..the worst in the Caribbean actually.
What do Antigua’s, yes Antiguan’s have to show for their many years of hate work.
Just some dilapidated buildings and a country that’s going backwards by the day.
We have a town that doesn’t even looks like a town, but one big ghetto. Honestly ask any Antiguan’s if they feel safe in their own little St John’s, and their arse will tell you ” hell no”.
Foreigners and strangers every damn where, you don’t even know who is who.
They have lost the damn town, lost it, and one little ” bi-election” win in a back bush constituent means nothing..everything is happening in the city, and GB and Co has lost it.
I just walked St John three weeks ago(yes I was in Antigua, again) and the urine stench in some of these Alleys and roads is unbearable.
Foreigners are coming to the island and pissing on Antiguan’s, that’s how much they respect you idiots.
I call a spade a spade..time to take off the glove and be real about things.
Antiguan’s have no say or control in there own neighborhoods, and that’s a fact.
Bloody shame. The politicians have sold out Antigua..you even see it in the local shops and craft markets when you go there.
if politicians have nothing to do with how a island looks and smell, then what are they there for?
Randy has previously used his position in Customs to smuggle drugs , drug equipment and drug paraphernalia into the country with the expectation of increasing his political career and replacing one Gaston Browne. The news hit the airwaves during the election but Government officials are choosing to keep it quiet. if there was nothing to hide, why the silence?? The people deserve answers and they deserve better. Its time to investigate!! — You can find more details here https://www.facebook.com/samuelke
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