KENNY STAYS OUT OF PHILIP J PIERRE'S 13-MEMBER CABINET

Pierre Swearing in

The ceremony for the swearing-in of the new Cabinet of St Lucia Prime Minister Phillip J. Pierre was sworn into office on Thursday, August 5, 2021 at the Parliament Building in Castries.

The 13-member Cabinet  also includes Richard Frederick, who was booted out of the now opposition United Workers Party (UWP), and Stephenson King, a former senior member of the last government, who quit to contest the July 26 general elections as an independent candidate.

On the matter of the inclusion of King and Frederick in his cabinet, Prime Minister, Philip J. Pierre, cited a ‘new and inclusive’ approach to the governance of this country,  explaining that the two appointments were in acknowledgement of the will of the people in Castries North and Castries Central and the role that King and Frederick played in the election campaign in helping the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) secure an overwhelming victory at the polls.

Prime Minister Philip J Pierre's full Cabinet is as follows: 

MINISTERS:

 Hon. Philip J. Pierre: Prime Minister, Minister for Finance, Economic Development and the Youth Economy

Hon Dr Ernest Hilaire - Minister for Tourism, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture and Information.

Hon Shawn Edward - Minister for Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology and Vocational Training

Hon Alva Baptiste  - Minister for External Affairs, International Trade, Civil Aviation, and Diaspora Affairs

Hon Moses Jn Baptiste - Minister for Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs

Hon Kenson Casimir - Minister for Youth Development and Sports

Hon. Pierre(L) Hon Frederick (RT) Hon. King (RB)

Hon Richard Frederick - Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister with Responsibility for Housing and Local Government

Hon Wayne Girard - Minister in the Ministry of Finance , Economic Development and Youth Economy

Hon Joachim Henry - Minister for Equity, Social Justice and Empowerment

Hon Emma Hippolyte - Minister for Commerce, Manufacturing, Business Development, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs

Hon Stephenson King - Senior Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Ports, Transport, Physical Development, and Urban Renewal

Hon Dr Virginia Albert-Poyotte - Minister for the Public Service, Home Affairs, Labour and Gender Affairs

Hon Alfred Prospere - Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development

PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARIES

PS Pauline Antoine-Prospere

Hon Dr Pauline Antoine-Prospere - Senator and Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology and Vocational Training.

Hon Guibion Ferdinand - Senator and Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture and Information.

Former Prime Minister and Vieux Fort South MP, Dr. Kenny Anthony, was not given a cabinet appointment. Pierre said that he offered former prime minister Kenny Anthony the position of Senior Minister and the choice of any portfolio. Anthony declined citing an upcoming minor surgical procedure as well as obligations in his legal practice. Pierre said that Anthony's situation would be revisited in six months time.

Pierre also appointed newcomer Jeremiah Norbert, who made history by winning Micoud North for the SLP for the first time ever, as Deputy Speaker.

Editor’s note: Sources:

1 - https://stlucia.loopnews.com/content/cabinet-ministers-revealed-swearing-ceremony

2 - https://stluciatimes.com/king-frederick-included-in-new-saint-lucia-cabinet/