Tweet

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, Thursday June 19, 2014, CMC – Prime Minister Gaston Browne has named a 10 member cabinet that was sworn into office by Governor General Dame Louise Lake-Tack at her official residence on Wednesday.

But former prime minister Lester Bird, 76, the oldest member of the new government, was not able to attend the ceremony after being admitted to hospital on Tuesday night.

 

 

“We wish him well and do hope it won’t be long before he could be sworn in,” the Governor General said, adding that Bird will take up the portfolio of senior minister in the Cabinet, but gave no further details.

The Cabinet includes Robin Yearwood, who has been named Minister of Public Utilities, Civil Aviation and Transportation and Asot Anthony Michael who will be responsible for Tourism, Economic Development, Investment and Energy.

Molwyn Joseph is appointed Minister of Health and the Environment, while Eustace Sylvester Lake is the Minister of Works and Housing.

Charles Fernandez has been named Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, with Arthur Nibbs, who won the Barbuda seat by a single vote, is the Minister of Agriculture, Lands and Barbuda Affairs.

Michael Brown has been sworn in as the Minister of Education, Science and Technology, while Paul Chet Greene is the Minister of Trade, Commerce and Industries, Sports, Culture, Community Services and

Samantha Nicole Marshall, the lone female in the Cabinet has been appointed, Social Transformation and Human Resource Development with Melville Nicholas being the Minister of Information, Broadcasting Telecommunications and Information Technology.

Following the swearing in ceremony, the new Cabinet will be unveiled to the public at a public rally at the Antigua recreation Grounds (ARG) that will also be addressed by the prime ministers of Dominica, Grenada and St. Kitts-Nevis.

The Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ALP) won 14 of the 17 seats in the June 12 general elections, with former prime minister Baldwin Spencer being among three successful candidates of the United Progressive Party (UPP).