Thirteen ministers, three ministers of state and two parliamentary secretaries took their oaths of service, allegiance and secrecy on Tuesday when the cabinet of the new Dominica Labour Party (DLP), led by Prime Minister Roosevelt, was sworn in at a grand ceremony at Windsor Park Sports Stadium.
The prime minister had already, earlier in the day, been appointed as Minister for Finance, Resilience, Economic Affairs, Investment, Planning, Sustainable Development, Telecommunications and Broadcasting.
The ministerial appointments are:
I . Senior Minister and Minister of Housing and Urban Development Hon. Reginald Austrie
2. Minister of National Security and Home Affairs — Hon. Rayburn Blackmore
3. Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and Diaspora Relations – Dr. Hon. Kenneth Darroux
4. Minister of Blue and Green Economy, Agriculture and National Food Security – Hon. Fidel Grant
5. Minister of Tourism, International Transport, and Maritime Initiatives – Hon. Denise Charles
6. Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment, Youth at Risk, Gender Affairs, Seniors’ Security, and Dominicans With Disabilities — Hon. Dr Adis King
7. Minister of Trade, Commerce, Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Business and Export Development — Hon. Ian Douglas
8. Minister of Governance, Public Service Reform, Citizen Empowerment, Social Justice and Ecclesiastical Affairs — Hon. Gretta Roberts
9. Minister of the Environment, Rural Modernisation and Kalinago Upliftment— Hon. Cozier Frederick
10. Minister of Health, Wellness and New Health Investment — Hon. Dr Irving McIntyre
1 1 . Minister of Public Works and The Digital Economy — Senator Hon. Cassani Laville
12. Minister of Sports, Culture and Community Development — Hon. Roselyn Paul
13. Minister of Education, Human Resource Planning, Vocational Training and National Excellence — Hon. Octavia Alfred
Two senators are among the three ministers of state who have been appointed. They include Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, with responsibility for Telecommunications and Broadcasting which has been filled by newly appointed Senator, Hon. Oscar George, of Penville in the prime minister’s constituency and Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance, Economic Affairs and Planning held by Senator Hon. Gregory “Karessah” Riviere who contested the December 6 general election for the DLP in Marigot and lost.
The position of Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Business and Diaspora Relations, with Specific responsibility for Diaspora Relations, has been assigned to Hon. Edward Registe.
The appointment of three parliamentary secretaries rounds off the new 18-member DLP cabinet. They are:
Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, International Transport, and Maritime Initiatives, with special responsibility for Air and Sea Port Operations, Hon. Chekira Lockhart-Hypolite who took the Roseau South seat away from Deputy leader of the United Workers Party, Joshua Francis and Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry Of Health, Wellness and New Health Investment, with particular responsibility for Community and Home Care, Hon. Kent Edwards who won in the La Plaine constituency.
Well people, here we bo again. I find that you guys took long with your crititicims. It is a matter of dam if you do, dam if you don’t. If the PM had given his wife a big duty allyou would bawl, besides she has a young family ,both of them cannot be away from home at once.
I’m afraid that you guys does not have an ounce of feelings in your heart, give people a chance, the bible say “do not judge” it is written go check it out You so called Christians.
Leave people to be judged by the almighty not your evil wicked tongues.
Love thy neighbour as thyself for the love of God. Not to plan hatred and destruction against your own it it is wrong. At least she has a job unlike your leader and his followers ask them where they are working and for whom ,and what have they achieved.
I believe that they cannot think right because their nostrils to wide it bringing up bad air.
Allyou can Mattee, jump curse do what you want i stand firm.
Hon Skerrit this is very wrong for not making ur wife a Minister. She has won her seat and she should be given the opportunity to prove herself. Nothing beat a trial but a failure. Skerrit u have failed ur wife, her constituency and ur self. God don’t like the ugly and he is not jealous of the pretty. Don’t let God take away ur blessing from u by doing wrong to ur wife. Do u remember ur days when u won and u were not chosen for a Ministry. Also why are u putting sticks to put fire and discredit ur wife. I do hope u plan to give her a ministry. Melissa don’t bow to ur husband. You won and demand u position. What biasness is that. Shame on u.
Francell, I am certainly sure if the PM had given his wife a ministerial position this would not have been your comment . You, and other UWP members and followers would have been the first to bash the PM FOR DOING SO. You, Francell would be the first to criticize his wife regarding her position.
The fact is, You UWPites always want things your way if not, then no way.
I’m sure the decision taken was with consultation between the two of them.
Maybe YOU, Francell have a family but care less but the two are mindful of their family. Mind your damn business for awhile!
PM know what to do just wait he will place them all. I wish you all the best.
melissa is going to travel with skerrit on tax payers money.she is going to co work with skerrit on all the positions he took for himself. watch from a distance you will see what going to happen. wait for it.
Ray ray ray mr lavelle will replace u in mahaut I thought its u skerritt would make pm when he step down I feel your pain I even saw the president was too slow for u in the swearing ceremony I felt your pain I must applaud skerritt for doing this because he knows where u belong casanie for sure next 5 years no ray enough of u ray coming from one of soldier in the 2014 election I stay away this time good job skero no ray for mahaut in 2014
I do hope that the Prime minister realize that his choices are unpopular. It is a waste of brain not to have Joseph Isaac as a minister. This speaker thing is a destruction of his political career. Melissa should be rewarded for that marvelous victory in a seat we were never able to win. Yet you pull guys out of nowhere and make the ministers. Oscar is my former student; an excellent one at the and I have nothing against him but he did not face the fire nor did Laville. What happened to Shanks who has been loyal. Mr Skerrit you need to be placed in Gerneral Natty’s song, For Mas. I am never too great a supporter to say what I feel. You messed up.
She is the First Lady and, there will be things for her to do soon. Do not worry, be happy. All First Ladies have their duties to perform and Melissa is no exception. Stop beating on the First Lady. Did Michel Obama or Hilary Clinton have any ministerial position in their Husbands cabinet? No, but they had other duties to perform and performed admirably and made their husband proud. So will Melissa. No hurry. Her essay, her glamour, please pardon my grammar, but she is everything her husband thinks. She is celtic, united and has decided that she is the warmest thing that he has ever had.. “toe pwasay paca fait jour oveur”. Be patient. Things have just started to roll. There is more to roll soon. You sorry UWP folks. Take a walk at peebles park. How about that?
She is not the first Lady, the President’s wife is first lady.
Mr. George! i hope!!! you of all people can put in those lazy people skin and speak sense to nonsense. I am highly surprised that you have been part of this party when in the same breath we have discussed the MANY failures that the DLP has produces over the many years. For your sake do not pass like a fool. alas it seems politics is a means to an ends for many, however i know you are for the progress of the country. I hope i am not wrong and you become greedy like these power and money hungry people. so now how come Cassani Laville becomes a Minister, but yet the lady that help to steal Roseau got NOTHING and a nonsense position. Meanwhile certain side chicks of the PM retain their ministerial and PS positions. this country is a complete joke. Laborites are complete clowns.
Most people thought Melissa was a duncy. Not even Skerrit has any use for her in his cabinet. That says it all. What exactly did the people of Roseau Central vote for? A flower pot?
She is the parl rep duhhh. She will be in the constituency office. Thats her ministry oh.
Agitate gravitating outward was appointed as Minister of “Stay home and mind baby” as her inarticulateness was too embarrassing for the party?
Alas poor de cabinet we…melo safe man just now her husband gan give herba post. Special swearing for melo. Btw caressa say too much foochet in de cabinet. Lets see how those foochet will not foochet de country.
doh embarass us in de house eh..doh coolay de house.
Issac ..all little children can say for God so love the world we…and the word is believeth on him and not beleth in him
So Mr. Skerrit just confirmed what we already know about Melissa eh. He gives himself 6 portfolios and gives her none. Clearly he has used Melissa to win the Roseau Central seat. Alas, Melissa and her ghetto friends have been duped.
LMAOOOOOOOOOO. Embarrassment!!!
But what u expect skerro use her just to get de seat…melo stay with your children eh and leave politics alone..now theses tender hearts need u to be there..stay home.mom…no big deal. Pray with your children for your huaband wwhile he out there…connect to God. And be that praying wife…i doh know y he drag u in dat nor…u my cousin and i feel bad man.. alas take time with my little cousins innocent ones..leaders.of tommorow.
Y not name this fake double doctor minister of everything. He’s always the one doing all the talking for these so call ministers. Waste of taxpayer money. God bless America for so many who have left to better themselves. I feel sorry for the young people in my country 😢
I see dr. Darroux is now our Min. of Foreign Affairs. Where does that leave Francince Baron, the previous holder. I see no mention of her name with any role in the new cabinet. In fact, she is not mentioned at all. Did Melissa put her foot down? Also Ed Registe has the same role as Kenneth Darroux but as a Min. of State in Darroux Ministry. Two Ministers doing the same job? I find that very confusing . Should that not be a PS position or are Ed and Kenneth doubling up?
Boy look a ting
I mean minister of gravitate outwards
But dno you for mellisa man..minister of gravitate towards…she was suppose to be minister for education . What is her ministry nah
I am disappointed that not even a word was mentioned about Lady Melissa, she was a great speaker at every launching of the DLP.
She captured Roseau Central for the DLP, which I think, that no one else could have done that against the UWP. Also, I perceive a great attitude of God in her. She cannot be left passive in all of this.
Prime Minister, Sir, what is it with Lady Melissa, can you tell us? But if you are keeping her as a grand surprise, I am already excited. Hehehe!
Elizabeth, what became of Francisco Telemacque? Since UWP lost the election nobody has heard from him. Has he gone into oblivion, or hibernation, or a deep sleep, or a fool’s den? His BS did not work. No more BS from him for the next 5 years.
Why are you asking me? I am not his keeper!
So you mean to tell me after Skerrit blast Lennox for not having a degree he has a woman in his house that doesn’t even know the difference between condone and condemn… I guess he fianlly realized that he married a Gucci that’s why he didn’t give her a ministry after working so hard to win the seat for Roseau central for the first time.
Poor Melo.. papi put you under him so that you can learn to have a decent conversation with someone..
Ahhhhh Poor Mel. I don’t support Labor but i feel bad for Mel. Mel was used. I would like to hear from the people who voted for Mel. What’s your take on Mel being used?
Go on facebook and you will hear from them
As a member of the Dominican diaspora I am very delighted to know that there is normalcy in my country and awaiting the Dominica Labor Party to get back into the business of running the government with the newly appointed members of Cabinet. Elections over let’s move on. Of course, we are facing difficulties like all nations because of disagreements however, I know we can push past them because of our resiliency and work together to reach solutions benefiting the Nature Isle. Dominicans are known to have independent/determined minds which in this case is beneficial for bringing our differences and ideas to the table, which should be appreciated and respected, through collaboration much can be accomplished. When people are determined, they can overcome anything, if we bring such determination as a people to the development of our country, our differences will not deter us from accomplishing the best for our beloved Dominica. To quote President Nelson Mandela “It is in our hands to…
There was always normalcy. Also dominicans are now known to be mindless sheep. Following fashions and actions that are done by the masses without knowledge as to why they are being done. We are lost sheep here. Many of those in support of this regime remain impoverished.
Bro dont you ever compare Nelson Mandela with our madhat PM you hear, never ever even try that. Skerrit not fit to even polish Mandela shoes. PM Skerrit giving black people a bad name.
So where is Shanks Nicols Esprit? Under the bus??!!!
Under a bus? No, he departed by Shanks pony of course.
Can anyone tell me what the Blue Ministry mean? The other ministries I had to so a google search to understand and I am still lost- so I am not sure what to make of this cabinet than just to say to. jobs program with a Master-
That is what occurs when we have an excuse for an election- this country is far from settled.
sustainable use of the ocean environment. that would include fisheries and maritime work, In truth skerrit’s ministry overlaps into every other ministry. So those other ministers are all his deputies.
It took a while for them to come out of the woodwork, but we now have a better idea of this Axis Of Labour that is quietly being setup across the Caribbean region:
Mia Mottley – Barbados Labour Party
Ralph Gonsalvez – Unity Labour Party
Gaston Brown – Antigua & Barbuda Labour Party
Roosevelt Skerrit – Dominica Labour Party
St Kitts & St Lucia Labour parties are currently in opposition but we note their leanings towards the Axis Of Labour. And those islands with no party carrying the name Labour, are they somehow being woven into this Axis?
What is the endgame & ideology of this Axis Of Labour? Moving the Caribbean down a well disguised Anti-American, leftist pathway? One party rule in the Caribbean? Cling to power at all cost? Play blind to corruption?
Caribbean people, open your eyes to what your leaders now turned your masters are doing in plain view. The truth is hidden in plain sight.
The Dominican UWP may have very well scared these guys.
Stay tuned…
Remember, our labour party is officially afiliated to the Communist Party of China. Maybe this link should tell you something.
Congratulation guys God Speed
What position did Melissa get , I didn’t see her name in the article. Why did they do that to sis ?
Why did Melissa contest in the elections just to not get a position that making sense?
While my boy take six post in one floop
It is clear to see that skerrit used his wife to win the seat so his butt will not be in salt water. Just the same he used some dumminicans with coolout and the dummy diasporas just to save his butt…so skerro checking we can move on now..like nothing even happened..freshman here