Presents Cabinet to public
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – PREMIER of Nevis, the Hon. Vance Amory has started the ball to fiscal stability rolling with announcements of a pay cut for his Cabinet and a form of tax relief for the people of Nevis.
Amory made the announcements yesterday (Jan. 26) during the Thanksgiving and Swearing-In Ceremony held for his Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) Administration. His announcement – which from most accounts is a breath of fresh air to the people of Nevis – came just minutes after his Cabinet was sworn in.
While he promised that a full report concerning the island’s financial situation would be forthcoming after the completion initial analyses, he announced that his Cabinet would take a 10 percent reduction in salary and February of this year would usher in a reduction in the fuel surcharge.
The major highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of all members of the new Nevis Island Administration.
Amory was sworn in as Premier of Nevis since Tuesday (Jan. 23), the very day his party was announced winner of the January 22, 2013 Local Elections. But the swearing-in of his team and the assignment of their portfolios did not take place until yesterday.
In the presence of hundreds, all took Oaths of Office, Secrecy and Allegiance barring Premier Amory who took only the Oath of Office, as he had signed the Oaths of Allegiance and Secrecy on January 23.
Hazel Brandy-Williams and Troy Liburd were sworn in as Junior Ministers in the Administration, with Williams having responsibility for Social Affairs, Community Development, Sports, Youth, Social Development and Gender. She also has special responsibility for Community Affairs, Gender, Youth, Sports, Social Affairs and Social Development, the Licencing Unit and Import and Export Control.
Liburd has responsibility for Works and Public Utilities, Natural Resources, Physical Planning and Communications. His special responsibilities are in Physical Planning, Public Utilities, Flood Water Control, Public Works, Environment and Posts.
Minister Alexis Jeffers was given his Instrument of Appointment as Minister of Communications, Works and Public Utilities, Agriculture, Land and Housing, Cooperatives and Fisheries, Environment, Physical Planning, Natural Resources and Posts.
The Hon. Mark Brantley was appointed Deputy Premier in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) and was also appointed Minister of Tourism, Health, Social Development, Youth, Sports, Culture, Social Affairs and Gender Affairs, Community Development.
And Premier Amory was appointed Minister of Finance, Statistics, Economic Development, Education, Library Services, Consumer Affairs, Labour, Human Resources, Telecommunications, Information, Trade, Industry and Consumer Affairs.
The CCM was returned to office only six years after the people had given the mandate to the Nevis Reformation Party (NRP).
