Amid the ongoing buzz of who’s in and who’s out of the new-look Mia Mottley administration, the ministerial team will Wednesday take the oath of office and commit to exercising their duties in Barbados’ best interest at all times.
This time around, the PM with a second clear 30-nil victory in hand has opted to downsize her cabinet by four, moving from 24 ministers to 20 – a plus at least for some.
Critics who railed against what they labelled as a bloated cabinet after the 2018 poll have suggested it’s not enough.
Admittedly, four fewer ministers is not a massive trim, but much preferred over the wanton distribution of ministerial portfolios.
A closer examination of the new cabinet reveals clear moves within the governing Barbados Labour Party.
Prime Minister Mottley played her hand with the creation of the roles of Deputy Prime Minister and three Senior Ministers all held by party loyalists Santia Bradshaw, Dale Marshall, Kerrie Symmonds and Jerome Walcott.
The new posts , we believe, are also intended to send positive signals on the national front. More responsibility has been handed to these experienced ministers and therefore Barbadians should reasonably expect Government to deliver on its new development agenda titled Our Barbados, Owning Our Future.
According to Mottley: “The Government that I lead is determined that Barbados will be viewed as one of the world’s top countries, a place of energy and enlightenment and opportunity. It is our intention that Barbadians should continue to hone and draw on the finest of our values and our traditions as a people so that in every place and in every regard, Barbadians would be viewed as exceptional, as people who stand on principle and hold within our bosoms an empathy for the human person and human condition and the passion to improve that condition.”
It’s now up to the new ministers to deliver on their responsibilities. There can be no honeymoon period; given the challenges that abound, ministers must hit the ground running to confront the issues in their respective portfolios.
Before we return our attention to the remainder of the Cabinet, the proposed appointment of the country’s youngest Senator Khalil Kothdiwala is a bold and commendable move.
Hardly can one dispute the importance and benefits of having a young, fresh voice to represent the future leaders of this country in the Upper Chamber.
Nonetheless, the concerns raised about the constitutional changes required for the move should not be ignored.
We aver that this provides solid ground for the Mottley administration to get to work on its commitment to mounting the widest possible transparent public consultations to enact a new constitution of the republic.
Equally critical is the proposed establishment of possible senate roles for representatives of unsuccessful opposition parties in the general election.
We hope that those parties will put aside partisan carping and take up the offer to ensure more eyes and hands will keep the Government accountable.
But back to the other notable cabinet appointments. The new ministers of health and education have also caught our attention.
Incoming Minister of Health Ian Gooding-Edghill has been publicly praised by the PM for his performance first as Chairman of the Transport Board and then as Minister of Transport, Works and Water Resources. Thus, much is expected of him as he fills the boots of the formidable Lt. Col Jeffrey Bostic to guide the country through the relentless COVID-19 pandemic. His first test awaits: the near two-month protests being staged by the nurses represented by the Unity Workers Union.
Equally keen attention will be on Kay McConney, a fresh face in the House who leaves behind the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Technology and the Senate as she takes up the Ministry of Education.
Awaiting her attention are detailed plans on the announced phased return to face-to-face classes for students hard done by the COVID-19 pandemic on February 21 and particularly whether Class Four pupils should prepare for sitting Common Entrance Exam, long marked for abolition.
Of interest too, is the inclusion of two new faces —Davidson Ishmael, MP for St Michael North, the new Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology and Senator-designate Dr Shantal Munro-Knight, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, both of whom hold impressive CVs.
Space will not permit us to dissect all the appointments and those no longer in cabinet, but what is clear is that there is every expectation that Barbados, with a lean, performance-driven Cabinet will tackle COVID-19 and pressing economic and social issues, while at same time upholding democracy and remaining accountable to all Barbadians.
But so far, so good. Barbadians are watching.
