PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCES NEW MINISTERIAL PORTFOLIOS

St John's, 26th June…. Prime Minister Lester Bird today announced new Ministerial portfolios following both the resignation last week of Senator Asot Michael from his Ministerial appointments and a High Court judgement yesterday ordering Mr Guy Yearwood to vacate his seat in the Senate.

The Prime Minister said that, in keeping with High Court order he revoked Mr Guy Yearwood's appointment, and will re-appoint him as a Senator since he has relinquished his Canadian citizenship in compliance with the law.

With respect to the two portfolios previously held by Senator Asot Michael, Mr Bird revealed that he has decided to keep the Ministry of Public Works under his own portfolio, and, to facilitate this, he is relinquishing a number of other responsibilities including the Ministry of Finance which will be assigned to Deputy Prime Minister Robin Yearwood as an additional responsibility to his some of his existing Ministerial responsibilities.

The Prime Minister disclosed that at a meeting last Friday with his Cabinet, it had been decided to appoint a three-man Cabinet Committee headed by Deputy Prime Minister Robin Yearwood and including Ministers Molwyn Joseph and Gaston Browne to hold discussions with the private sector on ways in which the Government could help in the expansion of business activity. "The addition of the Ministry of Finance to Deputy Prime Minister Robin Yearwood's portfolio will greatly assist him to hold meaningful discussions with the private sector", Mr Bird said.

To further facilitate the work of the three-man Cabinet Committee, the Prime Minster said that he has decided to re-allocate some of responsibilities from himself and Deputy Prime Minister Robin Yearwood to Ministers Molwyn Joseph and Gaston Browne. Responsibility for Economic Development and Investment promotion will be added to Minister Joseph's portfolios, and Minister Gaston Browne will be entrusted with the further portfolios of the Free Trade and Processing Zone and Transportation.

Mr Longford Jeremy has been appointed a full Minister. He will have responsibility for Home Affairs, Local Government, Information and Youth Empowerment. Senator Guy Yearwood has been re-appointed as a Minister with responsibility for Sports and Carnival.

The Prime Minister said, "I am sure that the Honourable Longford Jeremy will carry out the functions of Minister of Home Affairs and Information with great credit. His organisational skills and experience as a businessman will make for a smooth assumption of office".

The new and amended portfolios are as follows:

Honourable Lester B Bird:
Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Public Works, CARICOM and OECS Affairs, Overseas Representation, Defence, Coast Guard, Military, National Security, Merchant Shipping and Shipping Registration, Printing, Office of National Drug Control and Money laundering Policy, Financial Services Regulatory Commission, Telecommunications, Immigration, Information Technology and the IT Centre, Data Bank (NCC), Energy, Law, Courts, Director of Public Prosecutions, Registrar and Provost marshal, Magistrates, Industrial Court, Law Reform, Legal Aid, Legislature

Honourable Robin Yearwood:
Deputy Prime Minster and Minister of Finance, Financial Secretary's Office, Treasury, Income Tax, Customs, Post office, Audit, Property Valuation Divisions, Inland Revenue Division, Social Security Scheme, Sea Ports, Harbours, Port Authority, Tax Compliance Unit, Antigua Public Utilities Authority, Civil Aviation, Metrology, V C Bird International Airport, Housing, Central Housing and Planning Authority

Honourable Molwyn Joseph:
Minister of Tourism, Economic Development. and Environment, Tourism development, Investment Promotion, Deep Bay Development Corporation, Beach Protection, Vendors, Environment,

Honourable Gaston Browne:
Minister of Public Service, Trade, Planning and Implementation, Planning, Statistics, Implementations, Public Service Affairs, Training Division, Human Resources Development and Management Services, Work Experience Programme, Public Service Reform, Transportation, Free Trade and Processing Zone, Domestic, CARICOM and OECS Trade, Bureau of Standards, Price Control, Consumer Protection, Small Business Development, Commerce, Supply Office, Manufacturing, Antigua and Barbuda Development Bank, Industrial development board.

Honourable Longford Jeremy:
Minister of Home affairs, Youth Empowerment and Information. Non-formal youth skills, Public Information and Broadcasting, Home Affairs, Local Government, Community Development, Ecclesiastical Affairs, Independence Celebrations.

Honourable John E St Luce:
Minister of Health, Social Improvement and Community Development, Hospitals, Hospital Board, Medical General, Medical Benefits Scheme, Social Improvement, Fiennes Institute, Central Board of Health, Aids Secretariat, Mental Hospital, Health Information, Health Education, Single Parents, Poverty Eradication, Mentally Handicapped and Physically Challenged, Social welfare, Care for the Elderly, Gender Affairs, Alliance for Social Well Being, Citizens Welfare Division, Drug Rehabilitation Programme and Reduction, Barbuda Affairs and National Parks Authority.

Senator Honourable Guy Yearwood:
Minister of Sport and Carnival; Carnival Development Corporation.