… to understudy Patterson at Min of Pub Infrastructure
The reshuffling of Cabinet members has not yet ceased, as Junior Finance Minister Jaipaul Sharma has been moved from his respective portfolio to assist the Public Infrastructure Ministry.
The decision was confirmed by Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson, who positioned on social media that Sharma will provide support to the Ministry with effect from July 1.
This was later confirmed by Sharma, who also took to social media stating that his appointment will assist in “much-needed infrastructure”. The reasons for the move are unknown but according to a close source, it might have been done in light of the recent comments made by Sharma in connection with the Marriott Casino Tender that was called off.
Junior Finance Minister Jaipaul Sharma
However, the reshuffling ensued after the ruling of Chief Justice, Roxanne George back in January that it is illegal for persons with a second citizenship to serve in the National Assembly. This decision was upheld in the Appeal Court in March.
As such, senior Government Ministers namely: Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; Business Minister, Dominic Gaskin; Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge and Public Service Minister, Rupert Roopnaraine were also forced to resign from Cabinet and the National Assembly, owing to their dual citizenship status.
Former Junior Public Health Minister, Karen Cummings was sworn-in as Foreign Affairs Minister alongside the newly recruited Minister of State, Dawn Hastings-Williams; Business Minister, Haimraj Rajkumar; and Public Service Minister, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley.
This period also saw a reshuffling of Junior Ministers, with Annette Ferguson and Simona Charles-Broomes being transferred from the Ministries of Public Infrastructure and Natural Resources respectively.
Minister Ferguson was appointed Housing Minister within the Communities Ministry, while Minister Broomes holds the mantle for Youth Affairs within the Ministry of the Presidency.
Moreover, Minister Valerie Patterson-Yearwood was also reassigned as Minister of Rural Affairs within the Agriculture Ministry.
Government then created a position for Harmon as Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency.
Gaskin was later appointed Director of Manufacturing and Marketing within the Business Ministry with responsibility for the enforcement of standards, providing assistance to small producers and access to markets, particularly Eastern Caribbean markets.
Additionally, Dr Roopnaraine was recruited as Director of Public Service Training within the Ministry of the Presidency with responsibility for training standards at the Bertram Collins College of the Public Service, Guyana Defence Force Staff College and Guyana Police Force Staff College.
Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge took up responsibility as Foreign Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with responsibility for the Department of Frontiers and Territorial Integrity and the Department of Trade and Economic Cooperation.
Article 155 (1) of the Constitution of Guyana states that “No person shall be qualified for election as a member of the National Assembly who (a) is, by virtue of his own act, under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state”.
