Dominican PM announces new Cabinet

Prime Minister, Roosevelt
Skerrit

by Paul Charles
Caribbean Net News Dominica Correspondent

Monday, May 16, 2005

ROSEAU, Dominica: Newly re-elected Prime Minister of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit, on Thursday announced the names of his new Cabinet ministers.

Local businessman Yvor Nassief has been named as the Minister of Tourism, Industry and Private Sector Relations. He will join the Cabinet in September and requested a nominal payment of EC$1 per year for five years.

Junior Minister Loreen Bannis-Roberts will act as Minister while Nassief winds down on his business activities in the next four months, said Skerrit. He will be sworn-in at another time.

Former Tourism Minister, Charles Savarin moves to Foreign Affairs.

Savarin is the only Dominica Freedom Party minister in the government - there were two last term (the other being Herbert Sabaroche). The DFP and the ruling Dominica Labour Party contested the election as partners but no one of the DFP won a seat in the 21-seat Parliament.

In the recent general election, the DLP won 12 seats, the main opposition United Workers Party eight and one independent seat.

In other changes, the Ministry of Communications, Works and Housing is now divided between Ministers Reginald Austrie and Ambrose George. George was formerly Minister of Agriculture, while Austrie was Minister of Communications, Works and Housing.

Vince Henderson (Education), Matthew Walter (Information) and Skerrit (Finance and Security)keep their ministries.

New ministers are Ian Douglas (Legal Affairs), Dr Collin McIntyre (Agriculture), John Fabien (Health), and Yvor Nassief (Tourism). McIntyre, Nassief and Savarin are Senators (or non-elected MPs).

There is no provision in the constitution for a Deputy Prime Minister.

The full list of portfolios is as follows:

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, Minister of Finance, Economic Planning, Carib Affairs and Security

Minister of Information, Culture, Community Development, Gender Affairs - Matthew Walter

Minister of Housing, Lands, Telecommunications, Energy and Ports - Reginald Austrie

Junior Minister (Carib Affairs) - Kelly Graneau

Junior Minister (Tourism, Industry, Private Sector Relations - Loreen Bannis-Roberts

Junior Minister (Prime Minister's Office) - Rayburn Blackmore

Public Works and Public Utilities - Ambrose George

Attorney General, Minister of Legal Affairs and Immigration - Ian Douglas

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Environment - Dr Collin McIntyre

Minister of Education, Youth Affairs, Sports, Human Resource Development - Vince Henderson

Minister of Health and Social Security - John Fabien

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade, Labour and the Public Service - Charles Savarin

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Private Sector Relations Yvor Nassief

Parliamentary Secretaries - Urban Baron (Public Works and Public Utilities) and Petter St Jean (Education)

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