St. JOHN’S, Antigua (January 20, 2023) – Six cabinet members were sworn into office on Friday on the heels of this week’s general elections that saw the Antigua & Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) returned to office for a third consecutive term. The full eight member team is headed by Prime Minister Gaston Browne, who retains his Finance and Corporate Governance ministerial portfolio.
Both Browne and Attorney General Steadroy Cutie Benjamin were sworn in a day earlier.
One by one, each minister stood before the crowd on the grounds of Government House and took the Oath of Office, Oath of Allegiance, and the Oath of Secrecy.
Maria Browne, in her second stint as an MP and minister, will play a more prominent role in her husband’s administration with the addition of the Ministry of Works to her existing portfolios of Housing, Land and Urban Renewal.
Melford Nicholas, who defeated United Progressive Party Political Leader Harold Lovell in St John’s City East, was given the closely watched Utilities and Energy portfolios. This comes at a time when the state-owned Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) is under heavy scrutiny for not being able to provide steady supplies of water across the country.
“With respect to APUA and the water challenge, I think I am going to relish that challenge. We certainly have to move APUA out of manual mode of water transmission into an ICT mode and clearly that has been part of my forte,” Nicholas said after taking the oath. He also retains his role of Information Communication Technologies Minister.
Sir Molwyn Joseph returns as Minister of Health, Wellness and the Environment and has the additional responsibility for Social Transformation. He has pledged to make mental health the top priority on his agenda.
Paul Chet Greene, the ABLP Chairman, retains the Foreign Affairs and Trade portfolios and will now also lead the ministries of Agriculture and Barbuda Affairs.
“I am hoping to use the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to leverage support for Agriculture so we can grow a stronger agricultural platform,” Greene said. He hopes to do the same for the National Parks Authority which also falls under his purview. This would enable him to find the resources needed to carry out the restoration and maintenance of historic sites.
Charles “Max” Fernandez was sworn in as Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Transportation and Investment and Daryll Matthew for Education, Creative Industries and Sports.
Benjamin will continue to head the ministries of Legal Affairs and Public Security. He will also have responsibility for Immigration and Labour.
According to Benjamin, the first order of business is to ensure that preparations are made for the opening parliament and swearing in members. He has also placed the needs of the police force and the prison atop his agenda.
Noticeably absent from the ceremony was re-elected MP for St Philip North Sir Robin Yearwood, who, Dadli Media Pop Up understands, will be appointed Deputy Speaker.
It is expected that senatorial appointments would be made within the coming weeks.
