Update: See full list of ministerial reassignments here…

A ‘significant’ cabinet reshuffle will be announced by Prime Minister David Thompson tomorrow, November 22, ten months after the 18-member group of ministers was announced last January. Sources close to the Prime Minister suggest that up to six ministers will have their portfolios reassigned, while at least one minister will be headed to backbenches of parliament.

Political pundits suggest that the reshuffle – one of the earliest in a first term administration – may reflect Thompson’s disappointment with some members of his government, while others suggest that the shakeup reflects Thompson’s commitment to seeing greater efficiency on the part of elected officials.

In an interview with the Barbados Nation, political scientist Peter Wickham indicated that ten months was “reasonable time for [a] Prime Minster to be able to assess the strengths and weaknesses of his team”, while suggesting that the move may be intended to bolster the skill-set in Cabinet in light of the worldwide financial crisis.

While there has been no official confirmation of which ministers will be affected by the shakeup, political observers cite the Ministry of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Urban Development’s delay in implementing its poverty programmes as a potential axe on Dr. Denis Lowe, while Minister of Tourism, Richard Sealy, and Steve Blackett, Minister of Community Development and Culture are also speculated by observers to be see their duties changed. Steve Blackett most recently created controversial headlines and infuriated cultural scholars by thinly suggesting a camaraderie between slave traders and Africans while they shared a ship across the Atlantic.

Tomorrow’s state of the nation address, Thompson’s second since assuming office in January, will be televised live across the nation tomorrow, with full and immediate coverage on the Cabinet reshuffle being carried live on this website.

For more information on current members of cabinet see:

Prime Minister Thompson announces new Cabinet, BDP, January 20, 2008

Related articles:

1. New cabinet announced by Prime Minister Thompson
2. Prime Minister Thompson announces changes to his cabinet of Ministers
3. David Thompson’s cabinet reshuffled, again
4. David Thompson to fellow CARICOM Prime Ministers: Butt out.
5. Barbados in another phase of Independence struggle, says Prime Minister

Antillean · Bridgetown, Barbados

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