My Proposed Cabinet

The Prime Minister elect and her advisors must be having a warm time crafting the new cabinet. It is my sincere hope that the issues of loyalty and political expedience will not be the deciding factors in the final composition of the cabinet. It is my hope that Mrs. Simpson-Miller and her team will careful assesses the present realities, determine the short to medium term objectives and name a cabinet in keeping with the skill sets at their disposal. The new cabinet should reflect the imperatives of fiscal discipline, economic grow, job creation and efficiency. Mrs. Simpson-Miller and her team must be prepared to think outside the box and consider a joined-up approach to government as recommended by the Nettleford Report. In this regard, agriculture should be link with investment and commerce. With a Director of Tourism and a Director General in the Ministry of Tourism, there is no need to have a minister just for tourism. It is a good synergy therefore to link tourism with foreign affairs and foreign trade, especially since the tourism minister is required to spend so much time abroad. The issue of community development must be given priority attention and be fused with youth, sports and culture. There is no need for a ministry of local government in the context of local government reform, a director general should be appointed to drive the process. Importantly, the ministry of education should be reconfigured to include the critical issue of human resource development.

The times demand a lean and efficient cabinet, a cabinet of youth and experience. Based on the foregoing, I offer the following slate for consideration.

1. Prime Minister and Defense – Portia Simpson Miller
2. Finance, Planning, and Public Service – Dr. Peter Phillips
3. National Security – Peter Bunting
4. Health and Environment – Fenton Ferguson
5. Investment, Commerce and Agriculture – Anthony Hylton
6. Housing, Transport and Infrastructure – Omar Davis
7. Tourism, Foreign Affairs and Trade – Wykeham McNeil
8. Science, Energy, Technology and Mining – Phillip Paulwell
9. Education and Human Resource Development – Ronald Thwaites
10. Youth Sports, Culture, and Community Development – Lisa Hanna
11. Justice and Attorney General – Patrick Atkinson
12. Industrial Relations and Social Services – Fitz Jackson
13. Cabinet Secretary and Information – Delano Franklin

Junior MinistersMark Golding – Finance, Planning and Public Service

Damian Crawford – Education and Human Resource Development

Luther Buchanan – Housing, Transport and Infrastructure

Julian Robinson – Science, Energy, Technology and Mining

Sandrea Faulkner – Office of The Prime Minister

Orville Plummeroaplummer@yahoo.com