Andrew Holness reveals his Cabinet

PRIME Minister Andrew Holness made few changes to the Cabinet formed by his predecessor Bruce Golding, but did enough shuffling to put his own stamp on the executive, saying that he played the deck he was dealt.
"There is a practical consideration. To have all new faces I would have to have a new deck, and that would mean getting a new mandate at election, so I have to work with what I have," Holness told journalists after 14 ministers were sworn at King's House yesterday.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness (centre front row) with members of his Cabinet (in front from left) Robert Montague, Olivia Grange, Dr Ken Baugh, Shahine Robinson, Audley Shaw, and Pearnel Charles. In second row (from left): Dr Horace Chang, Clive Mullings, Ed Bartlett, Arthur Williams, Delroy Chuck, Mike Henry, Rudyard Spencer, Dr Christopher Tufton, Daryl Vaz, and Dwight Nelson.
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Holness, who was education minister before becoming prime minister on Sunday, retained that portfolio. He has, however, moved planning from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), returning it to the finance ministry.
He also shifted local government from the OPM, creating a super Ministry of Housing, Environment, Water and Local Government.
In addition to the 14 ministers, nine state ministers were sworn, a day after Finance Minister Audley Shaw and Security Minister Dwight Nelson were sworn.
Significant changes in the line-up of Holness's anxiously awaited Cabinet -- revealed only after all the ministers were sworn -- include the elevation of Shahine Robinson from state minister to a full minister, bringing to two the number of women in the Cabinet.
The member of parliament for North East St Ann, who was once embroiled in a long court battle for her seat because she held dual citizenship, has been sent to work with Dr Horace Chang in the super ministry. She will have specific responsibilitiy for local government.
Holness, in an apparent bid to staunch public criticism of Daryl Vaz, who served as information minister under Golding, moved that portfolio to Senator Arthur Williams, who has retained responsibility for the public service.
Vaz is now minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for telecommunications and the newly created task of public sector efficiency.
Justice Minister Delroy Chuck has been entrusted with the position of leader of government business in the House of Representatives, a position which was held by Holness.
The number of state ministers has been increased by one with the promotion of Senator Warren Newby from parliamentary secretary in the youth, sports and culture ministry.
In his brief address to the group of family, friends and well-wishers who attended the function, Holness said it is never a simple exercise to put together a Cabinet as all the subjects must fit perfectly together, leaving no room for error.
"I believe that I have put together a Cabinet that reflects, first of all, the capacity of the representatives in Parliament... it represents the hard work, innovativeness... represents the new direction in which I would like to steer the country," he said.
Holness, in taking note of the public's clamour for new faces in Government, said a balance has to be struck, given the limited learning curve.
"You want to have change, but you certainly don't want to have chaos in change and we have to strike that balance," he said.
Explaining Vaz's new role, Holness said it will cut across all ministries, hence the reason for it being in the Office of the Prime Minister.
Describing Vaz as a very hard-working minister, Holness said he has been charged with the important job of bringing new business administration to the public service.
Vaz admitted that public opinion may have influenced the change, but said he is prepared to give his best wherever he is asked to serve.
"When it comes to Daryl what you see is what you get... that is the nature of the guy... you either love me or you hate me, and I guess those who hate me may have won this round," he told journalists.
Meanwhile, Williams said he is prepared for his new role and is fully aware of the scrutiny his work will come under, now that he is the new face of the Government.
"I propose to impart information clearly, precisely and fairly without holding back anything," he told the Observer.
The full Cabinet reads:
* Andrew Holness - Prime Minister, minister of Defence and Education
* Dr Ken Baugh - Deputy prime minister, Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade;
* Audley Shaw - Finance and Planning;
* Dr Christopher Tufton - Industry, Investment and Commerce;
* Edmund Bartlett - Tourism;
* Senator Dwight Nelson - National Security;
* Dr Horace Chang - Housing, Environment, Water and Local Government;
* Robert Montague - Agriculture and Fisheries;
* Pearnel Charles - Labour and Social Security;
* Rudyard Spencer - Health;
* Olivia Grange - Youth, Sports and Culture;
* Mike Henry - Transport and Works
* Clive Mullings - Energy and Mining
* Delroy Chuck - Justice;
* Daryl Vaz - Minister without portfolio with responsibility for telecommunications and public sector efficiency;
* Senator Arthur Wiliams - Minister without portfolio in the Cabinet Office with responsibility for public service and information;
* Shahine Robinson - Minister without portfolio, Ministry of Housing, Environment, Water and Local Government, with responsibility for local government;
State ministers are:
* Dr St Aubyn Bartlett - Security;
* Laurence Broderick - Energy and Mining;
* Andrew Gallimore - Labour and Social Security;
* JC Hutchinson - Agriculture and Fisheries;
* Othneil Lawrence - Transport and Works
* Gregory Mair - Education;
* Senator Marlene Malahoo-Forte - Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade;
* Senator Warren Newby - Youth, Sports and Culture;
* Michael Stern - Industry, Investment and Commerce.