KINGSTON – Prime Minister Andrew Holness has made good on his promise to establish a Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation and he is taking charge of it.
He will be assisted by Daryl Vaz, Derrick Smith and Horace Chang, all ministers without portfolio.
Holness made the declaration on Monday as his 18-member Cabinet was sworn in.
Describing the portfolio as a super ministry, Holness said it will integrate all government agencies that are instrumental to growth and job creation in Jamaica.
While he was in Opposition, Holness had started to push for what he calls a growth csar and also called for the then People’s National Party-led government to appoint a minister who would be solely responsible for economic growth.
Holness said the growth minister was necessary in light of Jamaica’s current programme with the International Monetary Fund and the average growth of 0.2 per cent achieved under the PNP’s first three full years in office.
However then prime minister Portia Simpson Miller dismissed the idea of a growth csar, saying that her entire cabinet was charged with bringing growth and development to Jamaica.
Cabinet Ministers
1 The Most Hon. Andrew Holness (left), ON, MP Prime Minister, Minister of Defence Minister of Economic Growth and Job Creation
2 Hon. Horace Chang, MP Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister
3 Hon. Derrick Smith, MP Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister
4 Hon. Daryl Vaz, MP Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister
5 Senator Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs
6 Hon. Audley Shaw, MP Minister of Finance and Public Service Hon. Fayval Williams, MP Minister of State in Ministry of Finance and Public Service Hon. Rudyard Spencer, MP Minister of State in Ministry of Finance and Public Service
7 Hon. Karl Samuda, MP Minister of Industry, Commerce & Agriculture
8 Hon. JC Hutchinson, MP Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce & Agriculture
9 Hon. Robert Montague, MP Minister of National Security Senator Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security
10 Hon. Delroy Chuck, MP Minister of Justice
11 Senator, Hon. Ruel Reid Minister of Education, Youth and Information Hon. Floyd Green, MP Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information
12 Hon. Andrew Wheatley, MP Minister of Energy, Science and Technology
13 Hon. Desmond McKenzie, MP Minister of Local Government
14 Hon. Mike Henry, MP Minister of Transport and Mining
15 Hon. Edmund Bartlett, MP Minister of Tourism
16 Dr Hon. Christopher Tufton, MP Minister of Health
17 Hon. Shahine Robinson, MP Minister of Labour and Social Security
18 Hon. Olivia “Babsy” Grange, MP Minister of Entertainment, Sport, Culture and Gender
Mrs Marlene Malahoo Forte, MP – Attorney General (Gleaner/JIS)
