New Ministers Appointed by BVI Premier

During the ceremony to swear in the new government ministers, which was held in the Government House, the new BVI Premier Andrew Fahie announced extensive ministerial reshuffling. Mr. Fahie is minister of finance, the portfolio of minister of health and social development is given to Carvin Malone, Kye Rymer is the newly appointed minister of transportation, works and utilities, Vincent Wheatley is minister of education, culture, youth affairs, fisheries and agriculture, Sharie de Castro is junior minister of trade and economic development, and Shereen Flax-Charles is junior minister of tourism; Neville Smith will serve as deputy speaker in the House of Assembly, and will occasionally fill in as a junior minister or minister.

The BVI government announced that Dr. Wheatley was sworn in as deputy premier for a period of three months. During the first year, every three months Mr. Fahie will appoint different minister to this position to provide necessary experience to the leaders. According to the government press release, after the first year someone will take this post permanently. 

Reorganization also includes the responsibility for telecommunications, ports and airports taken by the Premier’s Office, and responsibility for immigration taken by the newly formed Ministry of Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration. Among other changes there is moving of the Department of Agriculture and the Conservation and Fisheries Department from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour to the newly renamed Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture.