Housing gains what Agriculture loses as minister shifts portfolios

There’s been a change in the ministerial line-up of the Mia Mottley administration, the Cabinet office announced Tuesday evening.

Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security Peter Phillips has a new portfolio.

Phillips, the Lucy MP who served with agriculture minister Indar Weir, has moved to the Ministry of Housing, Lands and Maintenance led by Dr William Duguid.

The official release offered no explanation but said the move took effect from August 30.

When contacted by Barbados TODAY, Minister Phillips did not explain the rationale for the move, but declared he is always ready to serve Barbados.

He said: “As you would be well aware those of us who serve in Cabinet do so at the pleasure of the Prime Minister and it is obviously within her right and her judgment how she would want to constitute her Cabinet whether it is rearranging or reassigning of any minister.

“I am very happy to be part of the Cabinet, I am happy to be serving in whichever capacity I am asked to for the benefit of the people of Barbados . There’s a lot of work to be done in the Ministry of Housing Lands and Maintenance and I am very glad to join the team there to ensure that Barbadians benefit from the housing programme which Government has brought to the table.”

On July 22, 2020, Prime Minister Mottley made several changes to her Cabinet. She named two new ministers, relieved five members of their duties and revised portfolios.

At that time Phillips was the Minister in the Ministry of Transport Works and Maintenance. (SD)