St Vincent PM promotes son to finance minister

Last updated: November 14, 2017 at 14:56 pm

Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has handed responsibility of the finance ministry to his son in a cabinet reshuffle.

Camillo Gonsalves, 45, has taken over role held by his father since 2001.

His 71-year-old father will continue as minister of national security, air and sea port development, immigration and legal affairs.

The ministry has been added to Camillo’s existing portfolios of economic planning and sustainable development.

But his other responsibilities – industry, information, labour, the postal service and the bureau of standards – have been shared among other cabinet colleagues.

Industry, labour and bureau of standards have been added to Saboto Caesar’s existing post of minister of agriculture, forestry, fisheries and rural transformation.

Speaking on a local radio station, the prime minister said: “Outside of tourism, the economic levers – from a formal standpoint – are in the hands of Camillo and Saboto, of course with the prime minister having oversight responsibilities.”

Minister of Transport, Works, Urban Development and Local Government Julian Francis takes on the further responsibility for postal services, while St Clair Prince, minister of education, reconciliation and ecclesiastical now has the added responsibility for information.

The younger Gonsalves is expected to present his first budget as Minister of Finance by mid-January 2018.

The Prime Minister defended the cabinet reshuffle and said it was important for the new minister of finance to be in place before the budget presentation.

“The new minister needs some time to familiarise himself in detail,” he said.