Petrina Francis, Staff ReportersNEWLY-APPOINTED CABINET members say they are satisfied with the portfolios assigned to them by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller.
"I feel satisfied, it has been a long haul. I have been in Parliament since 1989," said Derrick Kellier, the new Minister of Labour and Social Security and newcomer to the Cabinet.
Colin Campbell, who now has responsibility for Information and Development, said he was honoured to return to the Senate and to the Cabinet.
Ambassador Anthony Hylton, who has been appointed Senator and given the Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade portfolio, was equally delighted.
"I feel very humble, very privileged and I want to thank the Prime Minister for the confidence and the people of Jamaica for the support in this period," he said. "I look forward to the challenges, they are quite significant and I feel empowered and I think we can make a difference."
Senators Hylton and Campbell will replace Burchell Whiteman, who has retired from active politics, and Deika Morrison, who has resigned from the Senate to continue her studies. Dr. Omar Davies told The Gleaner that his going back to the Finance Ministry is a positive move for the country.
LONG HARD ROAD
"It was a long hard road and there was a lot of speculation (that he would not have returned) but I don't know what was the basis of that speculation," he said.
Dr. Davies said however that the country should look to the matter of succession planning. "I have been
carrying this burden for nearly 13 years. I think that we now need to start looking for other younger persons to take on some of these responsibilities."
He said though that this was not a hint that he would bow out of representational politics any time soon.
Minister of Education and Youth, Maxine Henry-Wilson, who had Culture dropped from her portfolio, said she was pleased with her appointment. She noted however that culture was an integral aspect of the new integrated curricular and that she would have to discuss the issue with relevant persons to see which areas will remain in education.
Donald Buchanan, former Water and Housing Minister, and former Development Minister Dr. Paul Robertson have been dropped from the Cabinet.
THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CABINET ARE:
| Portia Simpson Miller | | Defence, Sports, Women's Affairs |
| Robert Pickersgill | | Housing, Transport and Works |
| Peter Phillips | | National Security |
| Roger Clarke | | Agriculture and Land |
| Senator A.J. Nicholson | | Attorney-General, Minister of |
| | | Justice |
| Dean Peart | | Local Government and |
| | | Environment |
| Phillip Paulwell | | Industry, Commerce, Science and |
| | | Technology (with Energy) |
| Aloun Assamba | | Tourism, Entertainment and |
| | | Culture |
| Horace Dalley | | Health |
