Golding blasts ‘top-heavy’ Cabinet

The new Holness Cabinet has been criticised as top-heavy and inefficient, with Opposition Leader Mark Golding describing Monday’s reshuffle as “a trivial exercise” that will add to taxpayers’ burdens.

Golding accused the Government of using the reshuffle to deflect from its handling of pressing problems such as the surge in COVID-19 infections and galloping murders.

He argued that state resources should be used more judiciously to assist society’s most vulnerable,

“There is a general sense that we need to be efficient in how we manage public resources because they are scarce and there are so many real needs out there so there has always been pressure ever since I can remember on Government to try not to have too many ministries,” he said.

“... There is really need for the Government to be doing more for people who have their backs to the wall, people who are finding it hard to find food, children who are going to their bed hungry at nights.”

Prime Minister Andrew Holness, in a swearing-in ceremony, signalled that there were more changes to come later in the year “as opportunities present themselves”.

Public sentiment about the changes has largely been underwhelming, but the prime minister defended the reassignments, likening the executive to a company whose human resources were under constant review. He also hinted that public pressure may have had an influence.

“You have to place people in positions that suit their competencies and you have to pay attention to what the public that you serve is saying,” Holness said.

Holness’ 30-member executive is one of the heaviest in modern Jamaica, with six ministers under his wing in the Office of the Prime Minister and Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation. That amassing of manpower has been rapped by Golding as excessive, lacking structure and a clear mandate.

“It used to be the place to house the geriatric politicians who refused to go home. It is now the naughty corner to park ministers who have disgraced the Government,” the opposition leader said.

One of the highlights was the return of Floyd Green as a minister without portfolio, who has been tasked with oversight of the roll-out of the National Identification System.

Holness said that Marlene Malahoo Forte, the former attorney general, was assigned to the newly created Ministry of Legal and Constitutional Affairs to drive the Government’s legislative agenda for constitutional reform.

Compliance with international obligations, which may have bearing on Jamaica’s legal framework and Constitution, will also fall within the parameters of Malahoo Forte’s portfolio.

Golding, however, questioned the value of Justice Minister Delroy Chuck, with his duties of legal and constitutional reform shifted to Malahoo Forte.

tanesha.mundle@gleanerjm.com