New AG among 15 to be sworn in today

THE new Attorney General John Jeremie, together with 14 other ministers whose portfolios changed last week, will take their new Oath of Office today at a ceremony scheduled for President’s House from 9 am. The Oaths will be administered by President George Maxwell Richards. Jeremie will also be sworn in as a new Senator in the Senate on Tuesday at 1.30 pm. Jeremie replaces Glenda Morean, who has been given a diplomatic posting as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. She will also have accreditation for several other European countries. The other ministers to take the Oath are Howard Chin Lee, Tourism; Martin Joseph, National Security; Jarette Narine, Agriculture, Land and Marine Resources; Rennie Dumas, Local Government; Pennelope Beckles, Public Utilities and the Environment; Colm Imbert, Science, Technology and Tertiary Education; Camille Robinson-Regis, Planning and Development; Danny Montano, Legal Affairs; Dr Keith Rowley, Housing; John Rahael, Health; Joan Yuille-Williams, Community Development and Culture; Satish Ramroop, Minister of State in Science, Technology and Tertiary Education; Anthony Roberts, Minister of State in National Security and Housing and Diane Seukeran, Minister of State in Social Development and Gender Affairs.

Prime Minister Patrick Manning in a statement last Friday in the House of Representatives announced the comprehensive reshuffle, described as the largest in this country’s political history. For months many were predicting the reshuffle, however it was not envisioned that it would affect so many ministers. It was speculated that only the posts of Attorney General, National Security and Housing would have been affected. But Manning surprised many on Friday with his sweeping changes. Prior to his announcement at 4 pm, he called the ministers who were to be affected, individually, and gave them the news. Several were reportedly upset with their new portfolios but have since expressed satisfaction to the media. The new AG is Head of the Faculty of Law at the UWI, St Augustine and the former Chairman of the Board of the National Broadcasting Network (NBN). He is also a partner in the law firm Alexander Jeremie and Co. He was also a junior attorney for the State in several recent high profile matters before the High Court. Efforts to contact Jeremie for a comment on his new position proved futile.

Cabinet Ministers
Patrick Manning, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.
John Jeremie, Attorney General.
Dr Lenny Saith, Minister of Public Administration and Information.
John Rahael, Minister of Health.
Hazel Manning, Minister of Education.
Danny Montano, Minister of Legal and Consumer Affairs.
Lawrence Achong, Minister of Labour and Small and Micro Enterprises.
Eric Williams, Minister of Energy and Energy Industries.
Jarette Narine, Minister of Agriculture, Land and Marine Resources.
Kenneth Valley, Minister of Trade and Industry and Minister in the Ministry of Finance.
Knowlson Gift, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Martin Joseph, Minister of National Security.
Howard Chin Lee, Minister of Tourism.
Conrad Enill, Minister in the Ministry of Finance.
Dr Keith Rowley, Minister of Housing.
Colm Imbert, Minister of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education.
Pennelope Beckles, Minister of Public Utilities and the Environment.
Rennie Dumas, Minister of Local Government.
Franklyn Khan, Minister of Works and Transport.
Roger Boynes, Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs.
Joan Yuille-Williams, Minister of Community Development and Culture.
Christine Sahadeo, Minister in the Ministry of Finance.
Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, Minister of Social Development and Gender Affairs.
Christine Kangaloo, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Social Services Delivery.

Non-Cabinet Ministers
Diane Seukeran, Minister of State in the Ministry of Social Development and Gender Affairs.
Satish Ramroop, Minister of State in the Ministry of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education.
Anthony Roberts, Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security and in the Ministry of Housing.
Eulalie James, Minister of State in the Ministry of Community Development and Culture.
Stanford Callender, Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Tobago Affairs.
Edward Hart, Minister of State.