The changes announced by the Prime Minister are as follows:

1. Sports and Youth Affairs move to the Ministry of Education, which becomes the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth Affairs.
2. Culture, inclusive of the Independence Celebrations, the Community Pride Programme, Carnival and the Environment , now move to the Ministry of Tourism. That Ministry now becomes the Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Culture and the Environment.
3. The Antigua Public Utilities Authority and Energy move to the Office of the Prime Minister. The country's leader said that Minister Trevor Walker will assist him with matters relating to Energy and APUA, with a Board that is expected to carry forward government policy and is answerable to the Prime Minister.

The realignment of Cabinet responsibilities is also accompanied by the changes in the responsibilities and deployment of a number of Ministers:

1. Deputy Prime Minister, Willmoth Daniel, retains responsibility for the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation, including the Port Authority.
2. Minister John Maginley is the Minister of Health.  2007 Cricket World Cup will, however, remain with Minister Maginley.
3. Minister Colin Derrick now becomes the Minister of Justice and Public Safety with additional responsibility for the Police and Fire Division.
4. Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Justin Simon will now have additional responsibility for the Land and Commercial Registries.
5. Minister Winston Williams is now Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth Affairs with responsibility for Sports and Youth Affairs.
6. Minister Eleston Adams is now Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Culture and the Environment with responsibility for Culture and Independence Celebrations.

Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Baldwin Spencer

The Prime Minister also announced that he intends to capitalize on former Cabinet Minister Senator Aziz Hadeed's unmatched experience and acumen in international business and therefore appointed him as Ambassador Extraordinaire and Plenipotentiary, with Ministerial Rank.

Ambassador Hadeed will be the country's point man in international trade and foreign direct investment promotion, merchant shipping and the promotion and establishment of the Caribbean Festival Park.

Leon 'Chaku' Symister, the former General Manager of APUA and Chairman of the United Progressive Party, was appointed as Ambassador Extraordinaire and Plenipotentiary.

Spencer also touched on the contentious issue of the landing of a fibre optic cable in his New Year's address.

He said his "Sunshine Government" remains committed to focusing on the liberalization of the telecommunications market and the development of a Regulatory Unit to ensure fairness in a newly liberalized market.

The said that the operation of a new undersea fibre optic cable will be a significant facet of the government's information technology and telecommunications thrust early in the New Year. 

Spencer also announced that his government will move immediately to establish a human resources department within the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda.

He said that the establishment of the Human Resources Department within the Police Force will aid in developing, communicating and enforcing policies and practices that reflect standards of acceptable behaviour for members of the force.

He said that chief among the tasks of the Human Resources Department will be the improvement of the individual performances of officers.  

The country's leader also applauded the devotion of the countless police officers who discharge their duty to protect and serve all of Antigua and Barbuda with dedication, and beyond the call of duty.

In dealing with the issue of deportees from North America and Europe, Spencer said that the Ministry of Social Transformation will be required to focus more particularly on the social displacement needs of these individuals.

He said that the relevant division within the Ministry will work closely with the Police and Immigration Departments and the job search and procurement divisions within the Ministry of Labour.

Spencer pointed out that every assistance will be given by the division within the Ministry of Social Transformation to ensure that deportees are fully integrated into the society and that they lead lives free of crime.

In his New Year Address, Spencer also announced that the PetroCaribe initiative is now operational and, to date, two shipments of petroleum products have been secured by PDV Caribe Antigua and Barbuda Limited and distributed by the West Indies Oil Company.

He noted that as a result, funds generated from this arrangement with the Venezuelan Government will be specifically utilized for social and community development projects to be identified by the government.

The Prime Minister said that his government cherishes the excellent bilateral relations and economic cooperation that exist with Venezuela and our other regional and international partners including, in particular, the People's Republic of China, and the Republic of Cuba.

The economic Performance of the country in 2006 was also addressed by the Prime Minister.  He said that the past year saw the economy of Antigua and Barbuda being placed on strong economic pillars that resulted in a record 12% growth - the highest growth rate ever achieved in the past 28 years.

It was noted that in the challenging year ahead, the government anticipates even more robust growth.

The Prime Minister said that the unprecedented level of economic growth will continue to be driven by significant expansion in the construction sector and a rebound of the tourism sector.

He also pointed out that in the New Year the government's programme of economic stabilization and adjustment will continue.