Gareth Manning, Gleaner Writer
PRIME MINISTER Portia Simpson Miller has made room for only two new names to join the list of junior ministers of Government.
However, in a departure from her appointment of senior ministers last week, Mrs. Simpson Miller made several adjustments to the portfolio responsibilities of those selected.
The12 appointed state ministers will be sworn in by Governor-General Professor Kenneth Hall at King's House at 10:00 a.m. today.
The appointments were an-nounced by Colin Campbell, Minister of Information and Development, during the weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House yesterday. Minister Campbell was hosting the first post meeting briefing of the new Simpson Miller Cabinet.
Only five of the 10 returning junior ministers retained their substantial posts, while the responsibilities of all others have been changed.
Fitz Jackson, State Minister for Finance and Planning, has kept his post, as has Dr. Wykeham McNeill, Junior Minister for Tourism, Culture and Entertainment.
Senator Delano Franklyn also remains as State Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.
Senator Floyd Morris remains State Minister for Labour and Social Security.
Former State Minister in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture, Dr. Donald Rhodd, has been shifted to the Ministry of National Security and Dr. Fenton Ferguson, who was junior minister for Transport and Works will be deputising in Health.
Dr. Rhodd's former colleague in the Education Ministry, Senator Noel Montieth, remains State Minister for Education.
The fresh faces in the junior Cabinet are former Team Portia deputy campaign manager, Richard Azan, and Victor Cummings.
Mr. Azan will join former State Minister for Water, Harry Douglas, as junior ministers in what has been described as the "super" Ministry of Housing, Transport and Works.
Errol Ennis returns to the Ministry of Agriculture, now joined with Land, and will be accompanied by Mr. Cummings.
Senator Kern Spencer, the former parliamentary secretary in the National Security Ministry, has been appointed State Minister for Industry, Commerce, Science and Technology.
According to Mr. Campbell, no parliamentary secretaries will be appointed to the new executive.
JUNIOR MINISTERS
State Minister -- Ministry
Kern Spencer - Industry, Commerce, Science and Tech
Fitz Jackson - Finance and Planning
Richard Azan - Housing, Transport and Works
Errol Ennis - Agriculture/Land
Floyd Morris - Labour/Social Security
Victor Cummings - Agriculture/Land
Noel Montieth - Education and Youth
Delano Franklyn - Foreign Affairs/Foreign Trade.
Harry Douglas - Housing, Transport and Works
Wykeham McNeill - Tourism, Culture Entertainment
Donald Rhodd - National Security
Fenton Ferguson - Health
