PRIME MINISTER Stuart Young and Attorney General Camille Robinson-Regis were sworn in to form the basic core of a Cabinet, and hours later, 27 other ministers also took oaths of office, administered by President Christine Kangaloo at President's House, St Ann's, on March 17.
Young retains his role as energy minister.
Former public utilities minister Marvin Gonzales became new Minister of National Security, replacing Fitzgerald Hinds who becomes a Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM).
Former permanent secretary and diplomat Vishnu Dhanpaul is the new Finance Minister, replacing Colm Imbert who became Public Utilities Minister.
Adrian Leonce joins Cabinet as Housing Minister, replacing Robinson-Regis with whom he had worked closely as her former junior minister.
Minister of Digital Transformation Hassel Bacchus retains his portfolio but also becomes a junior minister in the finance ministry, alongside Brian Manning.
After the swearing-in ceremony, the newly-positioned ministers (except Imbert) spoke to reporters.
Young explained the reasoning behind the overall shape of his Cabinet, most of whom retained their posts allotted under former PM Dr Keith Rowley, but with several notable changes.
Asked about him retaining the energy portfolio, he said appointments were always at the discretion of the PM, who usually has "a bit more information than everyone else."
Saying the energy ministry was critical, he recalled, "The amount of work that has gone into it and, in particular, the specific emphasis when you are dealing with geopolitics right now and where TT falls in that with respect to our Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries – what we have been able to achieve and what we have got done – but also some of the things that need a bit of focus and emphasis."
He said, "So at this stage, I thought it prudent to hold onto that portfolio until an appropriate time.
"I am the one who has worked it through. I am the one who for the last few years has managed to pull a lot of threads together. At this stage, it is important that we see how things are unfolding and I will continue with the relationships I have built.
"In that portfolio in particular, it is very relationship-specific, and for somebody now to jump in at this stage and manage those relationships and technical aspects, not only in geopolitics but also with the multinational oil and gas companies. I have the ability where I am already in contact with the decision-makers in the boardrooms in many countries. So at this stage, that is the reason."
Reporters asked about Gonzales in the Ministry of National Security.
Young said, "It is a new chapter. What you are going to see is a lot of different things happening, built on a solid platform."
He said Gonzales has always served on the National Security Council, has experience in the police service and is an attorney-at-law.
"I think at this stage, with where we are right now, Minister Gonzales will take that portfolio, as you all have just seen."
Young said he has added Hi
