Omar Anderson, Gleaner Writer
The new 18-member Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) shadow cabinet was named yesterday at Hilton Kingston Hotel in New Kingston. Some of the cabinet members are: seated left to right - Dr. Ken Baugh, Derrick Smith, Dorothy Lightbourne, Bruce Golding, Shirley Williams, Audley Shaw, and Dwight Nelson. Standing from left to right are Andrew Gallimore, Pearnel Charles, Karl Samuda, Andrew Holness, Dr. Horace Chang, Anthony Johnson, James Robertson, Ruddy Spencer and Clive Mullings. Missing are Delroy Chuck and Ed Bartlett. - JUNIOR DOWIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
JAMAICA LABOUR Party (JLP) leader Bruce Golding yesterday named an 18-man shadow cabinet, that he said is expected to form the next Government.
The shadow cabinet, which he said comprises new and old faces, did not, as The Gleaner reported on Sunday, include Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, Mike Henry, Abe Dabdoub, and J.C. Hutchinson.
The announcement was made during a press conference at Hilton Kingston Hotel in New Kingston. Mr. Golding will speak on defence, planning and development, and disaster preparedness and emergency management.
Dr. Kenneth Baugh is shadow spokesman on health and environment; deputy leader Audley Shaw will still speak on finance and public service; while deputy leader Derrick Smith retains his national security portfolio. He will also remain leader of opposition business in the House of Representatives.
The other shadow spokespersons include:
Dr. Horace Chang, housing and inner-city renewal
Deputy leader James Robertson, youth, sports & community development
General secretary Karl Samuda, foreign affairs and trade
Andrew Holness, education;
Delroy Chuck, justice
Shahine Robinson, local government and water
Ed Bartlett, tourism
Clive Mullings, mining, energy and telecommunications
Ruddy Spencer, labour and social security
Pearnel Charles, transport and works
Senator Anthony Johnson, agriculture
Senator Dorothy Lightbourne, legal affairs
Senator Shirley Williams, industry, commerce and investment promotion
Senator Dwight Nelson, information and culture.
Mr. Golding announced that Mr. Nelson will also be the party's chief spokesperson, confirming a recent Gleaner report of the party's wish to shore up its public image. "What I've sought to do in selecting this shadow cabinet is to blend experience with new faces," he said, adding that he expected the new faces to bring "new energy and perspectives" to the shadow cabinet.
Explaining the omission of Ms. Grange, Mr. Dabdoub, Mr. Henry, and Mr. Hutchinson, the JLP leader said the Central St. Catherine Member of Parliament (Grange) and the North East St. Catherine MP (Dabdoub) wrote him and refused shadow responsibilities as they said they wished to focus on their constituencies. In Mr. Henry's case, Mr. Golding said he had resigned from the previous shadow cabinet months ago.
The JLP leader said the decision to replace Mr. Hutchinson, who he described as a knowledgeable person, was purely in the party's interest. "It's the party leader's prerogative to determine who he wants in his shadow cabinet and as such I respect his decision," the North West St. Elizabeth MP told The Gleaner yesterday.
Meanwhile, Mr. Golding yesterday appointed Andrew Gallimore, MP for West Rural St. Andrew, as the party's parliamentary whip and shadow cabinet secretary.
