Nineteen new ministers appointed, Vickram Bharrat named Minister of Natural Resources

Charles Ramson Jr being sworn in
Charles Ramson Jr being sworn in

Nineteen new ministers were this afternoon appointed by President Irfaan Ali and the crucial portfolio of natural resources has gone to Vickram Bharrat.

The ceremony was held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

PPP Executive Secretary Zulfikar Mustapha was named Agriculture Minister, Pauline Sukhai returns to the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs and Charles Ramson Jr was named Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport.

Former University of Guyana lecturer, Hugh Todd was named as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Priya Manickchand returns to her previous portfolio as Minister of Education.

Dr Frank Anthony was sworn in as Minister of Health, Robeson Benn as the Minister of Home Affairs and Collin Croal as Minister of Housing and Water.

Susan Rodrigues was sworn in as Minister in the Ministry of Housing and Water.  The portfolio of Human Services and Social Security has gone to Dr Vindhya Persaud while Joseph Hamilton is the Minister of Labour.

Nigel Dharamlall is the new Minister of Local Government and Channel 69 proprietor Anand Persaud is the Minister in the Ministry of Local Government.

Kwame McCoy was named as Minister in the Ministry of the Prime Minister and attorney Sonia Parag as Minister of Public Service.

Bishop Juan Edghill has been named as the Minister of Public Works and former Chamber of Commerce head Deodat Indar as Minister in the Ministry of Public Works.

Oneidge Walrond has been named as the Minister of Tourism and Industry.

There was no announcement on the Finance portfolio and there is speculation that this will be entrusted to Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo.

It was also not stated whether oil and gas is part of the natural resources portfolio.

Gail Teixeira was appointed as Minister of Parliamentary Affairs on Sunday and Anil Nandlall as Attorney General.