The Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) on Friday afternoon released its 31-member council of spokespersons and a nine-deputy complement, instead of naming a shadow cabinet as was widely expected.
According to Opposition Leader and PNP president Portia Simpson Miller, her selection is aimed at providing effective oversight and “comprehensive coverage” to all state matters.
“The Spokespersons Council is not intended to shadow precisely the Cabinet as structured, and the council is not a Shadow Cabinet,” she said.
This, Simpson Miller contended, would “provide experience to our younger Parliamentarians”.
Robert Pickersgill, Derrick Kellier and Dr Omar Davies have opted not to be included in the Opposition’s Spokesperson Council but instead will play an integral role in the form of guidance and mentorship to the council.
Fitz Jackson has also, for personal reasons, asked out of the council. The release said that Jackson will concentrate on his Parliamentary duties and personal business.
Below is the full list of the Spokesperson Council:
- Portia Simpson-Miller: Leader of the Opposition, Defence, Social Transformation, Community Development and Gender Affairs
(Colin Fagan has been installed as council deputy)
- Dr Peter Phillips: Opposition Spokesperson for Finance and Planning
- Lambert Brown: Opposition Spokesperson on Public Service and Public Sector Modernisation
- Dr Morais Guy: Opposition Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade
- Peter Bunting: Opposition Spokesperson on National Security
- Phillip Paulwell: Opposition Spokesperson on Energy and Mining (and Leader of Opposition Business in the House of Representatives)
- Anthony Hylton: Opposition Spokesperson for Industry, Investment and Commerce
- Senator Mark Golding: Opposition Spokesperson on Justice and Governance (and Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate)
- Ronald Thwaites: Opposition Spokesperson on Education and Training
(Michael Stewart installed as deputy)
- Dr Wykeham McNeill: Opposition Spokesperson on Tourism
- Horace Dalley: Opposition Spokesperson on Health
(Dr Lynvale Bloomfield assigned as deputy)
- Julian Robinson: Opposition Spokesperson on Information and the Knowledge Economy
(Dwayne Vaz assigned as deputy)
- Senator Sophia Frazer-Binns: Opposition Spokesperson for Land and the Environment
- Dr Dayton Campbell: Opposition Spokesperson on Agriculture
(Victor Wright installed as deputy)
- Mikael Phillips: Opposition Spokesperson on Transport
- Richard Azan: Opposition Spokesperson on Works
Dr Winston Green assigned as deputy
- Luther Buchanan: Opposition Spokesperson for Housing and Rural Development
- Dr Fenton Ferguson: Opposition Spokesperson for Labour and Social Security
(Floyd Morris installed as deputy)
- Lisa Hanna: Opposition Spokesperson for Youth and Culture
- Natalie Neita Headley: Opposition Spokesperson for Sport and Entertainment
- Noel Arscott: Opposition Spokesperson on Local Government
(Denise Daley assigned as deputy)
- Ian Hayles: Opposition Spokesperson for Water and Climate Change
(Evon Redman assigned as deputy)
