Cabinet Reshuffles for Second Time This Year; Godwin Grabs Agriculture, P.M. takes Police

Godwin Hulse

The resignation from Cabinet of Minister of Agriculture, Gaspar Vega, has sent things in a tailspin in Belmopan. This afternoon, the Office the Prime Minister announced who succeeds Vega along with how the cabinet will now look. No surprise, the go-to Minister Godwin Hulse has been shuffled back and forth many times and has now under his belt at least ten different portfolios since 2012. Hulse surfaces as the new Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, the Environment and Sustainable Development, while retaining the Immigration portfolio. He will, however, no longer be responsible for the Police; a move that sits well for the B.N.T.U., who has been agitating for his removal because of the Immigration Investigation by the Senate Select. According to the release, Minister of State Omar Figueroa will focus on Forestry, Fisheries, Environment and Sustainable Development. The big winner in this reshuffle is Edmond Castro, who has been moved up as a full minister for the first time. Castro is now the Minister of Transport and National Emergency Management Organization. Now, as PM and Minister of Finance, Barrow picks up Home Affairs and brings in Elodio Aragon Junior as Minister of State for Home Affairs. Aragon is a former assistant commissioner of police, but there is no mention of who takes up his former portfolio of Culture Youth and Sports. In the game of musical chairs, the PM gives up the Ministry of the Public Service, Energy and Public Utilities, which will be taken over by Hugo Patt as Minister of Labour, Local Government, Rural Development, Public Service, Energy and Public Utilities. Frank Mena remains Minister of State for Public Service, Energy and Public Utilities as does Beverly Williams as Minister of State for Immigration. Rene Montero remains unaffected and retains the Ministry of Works. All other ministerial assignments remain the same and there are no changes to C.E.O. positions.