John Saldivar, Minister of Public Services gets additional portfolio

john saldivar

The Prime Minister also buffered both Ministers Patrick Faber and John Saldivar. Faber is considered a close ally while Saldivar got new muscle to add to the Ministry of the Public Service.

Prime Minister Dean Barrow

“The Minister of Education the honorable Patrick Faber, who I think it is common ground has done an outstanding job as Minister of Education will also be taking on the Ministry of Youth.  I think that kind of a combination education and youth and all the very plentiful resources that the Ministry of Finance gives to him, to work with will mean that in terms of ameliorating some of the social conditions that need to be addressed in terms of making the interventions with particular households, in particular neighborhoods  and offering people a chance in terms of educational opportunities and in terms of youth opportunities will be more than achievable in the context of that particular fit.”

Isani Cayetano

Has Cabinet sat down and looked at what this will cost for your particular ministry in terms of the fiscal budget and the fact that you’re bringing in added responsibilities to the sum of money that you have to work within?

Patrick Farber, Minister of Education and Youth

“Well when, as I understand it, I could be wrong about that, I’m new to this business of switching ministries but as I understand it when the Ministry of Youth comes to the Ministry of Education or they are amalgamated the budget that was assigned for the programs under the youth ministry also comes.  And some would argue, and I would agree that we have not spent enough money in the area of youth development in this country and so it gives us now the opportunity to put more resources.  As you know the Ministry of Education is one of the ministries or the ministry with the most resources as allotted by the national budget.”

Prime Minister Dean Barrow

“I have also decided to ask the Minister of the Public Service to take on the Ministry of Sports. Again those of you who know Minister Saldivar and who doesn’t will know of his history of involvement in sports; will know of his successful history of involvement in sports.  He tells me that it was both as an administrator and as a player.  I’m not too sure about that last one and if he was also a good player then my use of the word history is entirely appropriate.  That has to be in a historical context. But again ladies and gentlemen I feel that with John being able to give us a push as well from the point of view of the Ministry of Sports that will assist in what we’re trying to achieve.”

Other ministers whose portfolios were affected by the reshuffle are Melvin Hulse, who lost Public Utilities to Elvin Penner who also retains the portfolio of Information and Broadcasting.