The newest Vincentian Cabinet is to be sworn into office later today November 10. Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, this country’s fourth Prime Minister since national independence, will present the team of functionaries who are expected to help deliver on his Unity Labour Party’s 2020 campaign agenda – lifting SVG higher.
The ceremony is set for 4:30 p.m. at Heritage Square according to a release from the Agency for Public Information. Asbert News Network was reliably informed that amongst the appointees to be sworn in as Senators are at least 2 newcomers to the political scene as well as at least 2 battled tested politicians.
Ashelle Morgan – a young female lawyer who lives in the East St George constituency is tipped to be the Deputy Speaker of the House, Rochard Ballah (also known as Supa Dawg Pitbull) – Radio Personality and Lecturer is expected to take up duties as Parliamentary Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office. Ballah, who hails from South Windward is being eyed as the next viable candidate in place of the incumbent MP come 2025.
Longstanding Senator Julian Francis is widely anticipated to resume duties as the Ministry of Transport and Works Boss while former Health Minister Luke Browne, who again failed in this latest bid to secure his East Kingstown seat against the New Democratic Party’s Fitz Bramble, is also expected to be sworn in as a senator,the source told ANN
Dr. Minerva Glasgow former Deputy House Speaker and unsuccessful candidate for the South Leeward seat would preside over matters in the House of Assembly as she is set to succeed former Speaker Carlos James, sources say.
Following SVG’s 10th General Elections last Thursday, the Dr. Gonsalves-led Unity Labour Party administration was returned for an unprecedented fifth term with a 9-6 victory over the Dr. Godwin Friday-led NDP.
The elected Cabinet members include Carlos James, Saboto Caesar, Curtis King, Camillo Gonsalves, Dr. Orande Brewster, St. Clair Jimmy Prince, Deputy Prime Minister Montgomery Daniel and Augustus Stevenson.
2 Comments
Browne and Francis are public rejects, unliked and unwanted by the public. Why the PM wants to give such continuing special favour to these rejects is not perhaps so nonunderstandable. He spent much of his life himself as a reject so I suppose he has a wish to help others of the same ilk.
As for Deputy Prime Minister, there is no such position, its a made up one.
Under the terms of the 1979 Constitution of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, it is not Constitutional and therefore not legal to select, appoint, any person and swear them in as a Deputy Prime Minister. There is no such provision in the Constitution; the ULP Government has no right to present a person to be Deputy Prime Minister as they have done by asking the Governor-General swear in North Windward member of Parliament Montgomery Daniel.
The Constitution only allows for three Deputy positions, Deputy to Governor-General, Deputy Speaker, and Deputy Commissioner of Police.
If there were any intention by the draftsmen of the 1979 Constitution to include such a position and title in the Constitution, they would have made provision within the Constitution Deed for the position of Deputy Prime Minister. There is no provision for such a role. If a Deputy Prime Minister were required the political masters at the time would have insisted that the position of Deputy Prime Minister be included in the Constitution, they did not. In fact, by excluding it compounds the reasoning that they deliberately did not want to have such a position or office.