Shifted Ministers judged better in different portfolios
– Luncheon explains
THE merits of continuity have been acknowledged with the appointment of Cabinet members, according to Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr. Roger Luncheon, who added that the Administration is settling down to the work of the people. Following President Donald Ramotar’s first cabinet meeting, Luncheon told his first post-Cabinet media briefing that the priority for the Administration is the implementation of the promises made to Guyanese in the 2011 Manifesto.
The HPS said the ministers have been advised on their schedule of responsibilities, for which they will be accountable to the National Assembly.
Luncheon said there are only a few individuals who served under the previous administration, who have not been included in the new government.
The HPS maintained that, overall, the current Cabinet members are largely the same people who were there before, albeit in different portfolios, a decision that augurs well for continuity of the progressive strides made by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration.
He insisted: “The vast majority of the people remain…their strengths have been judged to be better utilised in different portfolios, but not out of the Cabinet.”
Luncheon noted that, along with himself, advisers Ms. Gail Teixeira and Mr. Odinga Lumumba have been retained from the previous administration.

INCLUDED
The ministers in former President Bharrat Jagdeo’s Government, who are included in the new Cabinet are:
* Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, who will be serving in the same capacity for yet another term;
* Education Minister Priya Manickchand, who was shifted from the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security;
* Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, who was moved from the Ministry of Health;
* Minister of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, who was Minister within the Ministry of Health;
* Human Services and Social Security Minister Jennifer Webster, who was Minister within the Ministry of Finance;
* Public Service Minister Dr. Jennifer Westford;
* Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali;
* Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony;
* Transport and Hydraulics Minister Robeson Benn;
* Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett;
* Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh;
* Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai;
* Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee;
* Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional
Development, Norman Whittaker, who headed that Ministry prior to his present appointment, and
* Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud, who is heading a newly created ministry.

CREATION
Asked about the creation of the new Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Luncheon explained that its establishment was not at the expense of the re-assignment of responsibilities from other ministerial portfolios.
He said the functions of the new ministry, essentially, take over those which were executed at the level of the Office of the President (OP).
According to Luncheon, much of the work related to Guyana’s natural resources and the environment was overseen by former President Jagdeo and a team at OP.
The HPS also clarified misconceptions that responsibilities held by the Prime Minister under the previous administration were assigned to the new ministry’s head.
He said that is not the case as the Prime Minister retains his responsibilities, with the exception of the Public Works portfolio, which has been passed to Minister Benn.
Luncheon said President Ramotar, at Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, expressed his appreciation for the contribution of those who have served and called for continuity to be maintained in the effort to deliver goods and services to all Guyanese people.
On the campaign trail, Ramotar had stressed that the promises made in the party’s manifesto are not just promises but rather are the outline of a vision for Guyana, which will see the country make greater advances that maximise benefits from existing resources and taking advantage of available opportunities, while working to further develop Guyana via the housing, health, education and agriculture sectors, among others.