(Jamaica Gleaner) The Andrew Holness administration has a new face to communicate its policies and programmes with Senator Arthur Williams getting the additional portfolio of information while the outspoken Daryl Vaz has been given a new task – that of driving public-sector efficiency.
In an interview after the swearing-in ceremony at King’s House in St Andrew yesterday, Vaz downplayed suggestions that he has been demoted.
“Some will say it’s a demotion, some will say it’s a promotion (it) depends on who you talk to, as far as I am concerned, a job is a job. Jobs come and jobs go…,” Vaz contended.
Vaz said he would be targeting jobs as his number one priority. “Any area of government that can get investment to get jobs I can say to them from today, ‘Look out, Daryl is coming’.”
Yesterday’s changes were a tweaking of what existed to create the Holness Cabinet, which was sworn in at King’s House.
Holness keeps his portfolio responsibility for education, Williams has maintained responsibility for the public service, while Vaz has retained his telecommunications duties.
The prime minister told the audience at King’s House yesterday that adjusting the new Cabinet was never a simple exercise.
“There is no room for error,” Holness said.
Fitting personality
He said Williams has been given responsibility for information as his personality would ensure that the information was well received by the public.
At the same time, Holness said Vaz has been directed to reengineer the business administration in the public service.
Echoing the words of Vaz in defining his new job, Holness said the minister would have the task of “converting red tape into red carpet”.
Holness said his Cabinet represented “the hardworking, the innovative and the new direction (in which) I would like to steer the country”.
Even though the changes were not substantial, Holness said he did not make adjustments without considering the public’s opinion.
Shahine Robinson, who has been promoted from state minister in the Bruce Golding government to minister without portfolio responsibility in a new ministry, welcomed the challenge.
She has retained portfolio responsibility for local government in the Ministry of Housing, Environment, Water and Local Government.
Asked what would be her priority area for local government, Robinson said: “Building better communities and delivery of service to citizens.”
Commenting on the change to the ministry, Holness said the intention of his administration was to start the process of creating a ministry of sustainable development. This is expected to be a super ministry when established in the future.
Holness also promised that there would be changes in the Cabinet going forward but noted that those adjustments would be planned and implemented seamlessly.
“We will be mentoring our young and those who will be coming in as new …” the prime minister said.
Signalling that his administration would not be parting company with senior government ministers, at least for now, Holness said: “We must respect experience.”
Warren Newby, who was a parliamentary secretary in the previous administration, has been elevated to state minister in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.
Meanwhile Justice Minister Delroy Chuck has been given the added responsibility of leader of government business in the House of Representatives and minister with responsibility for electoral matters.
The planning portfolio, which previously resided in the Office of the Prime Minister, has been returned to the Ministry of Finance increasing Audley Shaw’s duties.
Political analyst Kevin O’Brien Chang said the composition of the Cabinet was not a surprise, noting that Holness had made decisions which pleased his party members.
“I don’t think anybody is going to be unhappy. Mr Vaz might feel a little bit peeved being moved from the information post, but he’s in the Cabinet still.”
