Skerrit’s Cabinet, Who’s in and Who’s out.

On Monday, the Ministers of government in the cabinet of Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit will be sworn into office. That should have happened a week or two ago.  But Skerrit must have been in a bit of a quandary over the appointment of his cabinet and hence the delay

Having won eighteen out of the twenty-one seats in parliament, this should have been relatively easy but unfortunately, its not.

Every single candidate who contested the December 18 polls did so with the hope of being awarded a ministry if they were successful. However there are only twelve Ministries. Deciding then who goes or makes the final cut is by no means a cut and dry decision. Assuming that Skerrit has no intention of growing the government and that for the most part the incumbent ministers will be retained, the dreams of at least seven of these parliamentarians will go bust.

Skerrit’s headache however is not just there are too few ministries to go around but that most of the candidates are either unfit or unqualified for the job. Consequently, the Prime Minister will have to draw from his senate appointments to fill the three vacant positions created by the resignation of Vince Henderson, Loreen Bannis and John Fabien.

That’s nothing new. Senators Yvor Nassief and Charles Savarin were made ministers. Our constitution allows the practice but it must gall the candidates (and their families) who campaigned hard for their victories often suffering public embarrassment and all sorts of indignities. They must feel like prostitutes. Of course, the MPs that do not make the final cut, will be handsomely buttered with a government job and or appointment to the board of directors of some state corporation for which they are no more fit or qualified.

All things considered then, what might Skerrit’s cabinet look like? What surprises might Monday’s swearing-in present? While we anxiously await the results, let me hazard a guess or two.

Although Henderson, Bannis and Fabien announced their retirement, I would not be surprised to see a recall of the Foreign Affairs Minister. Henderson, forced to stand down in the December campaign, arguably was the best and most promising DLP statesman. Consequently, he may be appointed a senator and be returned as the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Alternatively, he might be slated for an ambassadorial role.

Justina Charles and Dr.Kenneth Darrouz are both contending for Health left vacant by Fabien. Grandbay has not been without a minister in government since 2000 but the wife of the former Prime Minister Piere Charles and nurse seems woefully inadequate for the job. She does however have a lot of sympathy support. Dr. Darroux on the other hand is far more qualified. It makes little sense to sacrifice a promising career in medicine for anything less than an opportunity to manage the national health sector. It is rumored however that the Petite Savnne MP habours some personal traits that do set well with the supremo nor endears him to the office of Minister of Health. Skerrit however might find it less worrisome and costly to give in to the doctor than the nurse. Justina on the other hand may not feel overly disappointed or slighted if she is assigned parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Health.

The Ministry of Culture, Community and Gender Affairs should be the easiest to fill. Skerrit’s only problem would be on deciding which of the candidates is most deserving of the kickback and better able to fill Bannis shoes. Or the appointment could be made purely on the basis of the next election. Peter St.Jean in Laplaine and Ivor Stephenson in Grandfond in this case would be the frontrunners for this honor. But the candidates in the other marginal constituencies will all have an outside chance.

While she more than likely will be reappointed as a senator along with Charles Savarin, Merina Williams will definitely be given the boot as Minister of Education. She will be replaced by Gloria Shillingford. If Peter St.Jean is not green -lighted to replace Bannis, he will be retained as Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education. Williams is headed for some top government job somewhere. It’s a demotion but she did not contest either the Roseau Central nor Roseau South seats.

This leads to an interesting outcome for both Alvin Bernard and Ambrose George. George sacked by both Charles and Skerrit, delivered one of the biggest victories to the DLP at the December polls. He was not supposed to have contested but outwitted and overwhelmed Williams to have secured the ticket. Now George’s feeling completely vindicated and is looking for a repeat; he wants back in. He and his campaign team have been fighting tooth and nail for a seat at the table. However, Skerrit knows the decision would backfire and blacklist the government in the eyes of both the Dominican public and international community. But as President of the DLP and a man who seems to be carrying about some party secretes, George has influence and may be able to pressure his way back into cabinet. Failing this however, one source close to the tough behind the scenes negotiations, says George may be heading to the Dominica Air and Seaport Authority while Benoit Bardouille is tipped to take over from Ian Douglas as Minister of Tourism.

Bernard on the other hand delivered the best showing that any Labour Party candidate has had in the past fourty or thirty years in the history of the Roseau Central constituency. He fell 2 votes shy of an upset victory over Untied Workers Party candidate Norris Prevost. And given the opposition’s plan to boycott parliament, the DLP will be looking to position him as the de-facto MP for Roseau. Bernard will therefore be brought in as a Senator and outfitted with a ministry. But that’s where things get a little ticklish. As a developmental economist with over thirty years of experience in the public service, Bernard is best fitted for the Ministries of finance, Economic Development and Trade. Of the three persons now heading these portfolios, Dr. Collin McIntyre is the most expendable or flexible. He has already been the subject of a reshuffle and there is no compelling argument to keep him in trade. Prime Minister Skerrit will never release his hold on the public’s purse, not even if you try to pry it away with a jack hammer. And although few jobs have been created and the city is no more livable now than it was at the start of his tenure, Timothy is likely to be returned as the Minister of Economic Development and Urban Renewal. Alternatively, a hybrid ministry combining components from both McIntyre and Timothy’s current portfolios may be created for Bernard.

Charles Savarin is expected to return to the government as well. For his new role as a DLP talking-head, he will be allowed to keep his Ministry of Ports and Energy. Alternatively he could be assigned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs if Henderson really decides to call it a day. Some have suggested an ambassadorial post for the one time Dominican Ambassador to Brussels under the Dame Mary Eugenia Charles Freedom Party government, but the DLP does not have enough talent on its current team to allow the luxury.

Ashton Graneau is one of the few first-time DLP candidates and parliamentarians that will make it to cabinet. As suggested by his younger brother Kelly and outgoing MP for the Salybia constituency, the transition is smooth—from one Graneau to another.

All the other incumbent members of cabinet should have no difficulties retaining their positions in the cabinet although some portfolios more than likely will change. Douglas will suffer a further diminution of his portfolio but should retain the Ministry of Legal Affairs. Rayburn Blackmore, Matthew Walter and Reginald Austrie should be returning to their offices come Tuesday.

Of course, Francine Baron Royer will be retained as Attorney General while Skerrit who has already been sworn in as Prime Minster if any thing, will add new portfolios rather than shed some responsibilities.

Skerrit’s full cabinet might look like this; Hons Roosevelt Skerrit (Prime Minister,Finance), Ian Douglas (Legal Affairs), Dr. Kenneth Darroux (Health), Gloria Shillingford (Education, Rayburn Blackmoore (Public Works), Vince Henderson (foreign Affairs), Matthew Walters (Agriculture), Ashton Gra)neau (Carib Affairs), Dr.Collin McIntyre (Trade), Reginald Austrie (Public Utilities), Julius Timothy (Economic Deelopment/Urban Renewabl), Charles Savarin (Ports and Energy)  and Francine Baron Royer (Attorney General). 

Other cabinet appointments will include Alvin Bernard, Justina Charles, Peter St.Jean and Ivor Stephenson.