Video: Premier Announces Cabinet Shuffle

November 1, 2018

[Updating] There is a Cabinet Shuffle being announced at Government House this afternoon [Nov 1], and we will update with further information as able, and in the meantime the live video is below.

Update 1.13pm: Curtis Dickinson has been sworn in and now Zane DeSilva is being sworn in.

Swearing-In Ceremony at Government House Bermuda Nov 1 2018 (2)

Update 1.18pm: The Premier is now announcing changes of Ministerial responsibilities, we will have full information as later on.

Update 1.41pm: Many of the portfolios were changed, but to start, Curtis Dickinson will take over the Finance Ministry, which was previously held by Premier David Burt, while Zane DeSilva is returning to Cabinet as Minister of Tourism and Transport. The Premier thanked ‘former Minister Michael Weeks’, who previously held Sports and Social Development.

Update 1.56pm: Information on some more changes – Minister Lovitta Foggo will now be responsible for Labour and Workforce Development, the Department of Energy joins Home Affairs under Minister Walter Roban, Immigration will now come under the Ministry of National Security, while responsibility for ICT and digital technologies moves to the office of the Premier.

Minister Walton Brown now assumes the Minister of the Cabinet Office, Jamahl Simmons will be Minister without Portfolio focusing on communications and consultation, Minister Diallo Rabain will retain Education, and Minister David Burch will continue as Minister of Public Works.

Swearing-In Ceremony at Government House Bermuda Nov 1 2018 (1)

We are transcribing the full text and will update, and provide a ‘before and after’ of Cabinet positions, as able.

Update: The live broadcast has concluded and the 16-minute replay is below

Update: The Premier’s full comments are below

Good afternoon and thank you for coming. Your Excellency, Cabinet and Parliamentary colleagues, Party Executive, family and friends.

In just over a week we will start a new legislative session with the presentation of this Government’s second Throne Speech. After almost 16 months in office, we have accomplished much of what we set out to do but there remains plenty of work to be done.

Let me first extend my sincere thanks to former Minister Michael Weeks who brought a valued empathy to the former Ministry of Social Development & Sports. His commitment will continue to serve the country and the Party well.

Today represents an opportunity to approach the tasks ahead with a team in whom the people of Bermuda can continue to have confidence. I am pleased to welcome Minister DeSilva back into the Cabinet and look forward to his characteristic hard work and commitment in any area he serves.

I wish to also thank the Financial Secretary, the Assistant Financial Secretaries and the entire Ministry of Finance team for their support, professionalism and expert advice during my tenure as Minister.

Special thanks go to Junior Minster Wayne Furbert, who has gone above and beyond in his role. I have asked him to remain in the Ministry of Finance for the time being, to assist in the transition of the new Minister and through the upcoming budget cycle.

I am confident that this same team will ably advise and support Minister Dickinson as he assumes responsibility for this most critical of ministries in Government. Curtis is strong addition to the front bench team and brings a wealth of experience to this portfolio.

Concurrently with these additions to the Cabinet, I have also taken the opportunity to realign some departments to better fit with the policy aims and objectives of the Government.

These include:

  • The Department of National Drug Control and the Department of Child & Family Services will move to the Ministry of Legal Affairs
  • Minister Lovitta Foggo will now be responsible for Labour and Workforce Development in the Ministry of Labour, Community Affairs & Sports
  • The Department of Energy joins the Ministry of Home Affairs under Minister Walter Roban
  • The Department of Financial Assistance moves to the Ministry of Health
  • The Department of Immigration will now come under the Ministry of National Security
  • Responsibility for ICT Policy & Innovation and Information and Digital Technologies moves to the office of the Premier within the Cabinet Office
  • Minister Walton Brown now assumes responsibility as Minister for the Cabinet Office
  • To reflect the importance of communication, consultation and public engagement in governance in this modern era I have invited Minister Jamahl Simmons to focus on these matters as Minister Without Portfolio
  • Minister Diallo Rabain will retain responsibility for Education as he focuses on the important task of Education Reform
  • Minister David Burch will continue as Minister of Public Works and the Ministry will not change

Prior to this change there were 11 Ministries in the Government and with this reconfiguration there will now be 10 Ministries.

One final change of note. As there is a constitutional limit on Minsters and Junior Ministers that can be appointed from the House of Assembly, Junior Minister Tinee Furbert will continue to advocate for the disabled, but will not have the title of Junior Minister. She has done excellent work in this role and I look forward to her continued advice.

This Government set out a progressive agenda in its 2017 Election Platform and having won the mandate of the people, we continue on that path of change towards building a better and fairer Bermuda.

Update November 2, 12.11pm: PLP Chairperson Damon Wade said, “The recent Cabinet Shuffle by the Premier demonstrates the depth of talent and the willingness of each member of Cabinet and the Backbench to operate wherever and whenever the Leader and the Party calls upon them.

“Alongside our growth in Party membership and the successful completion of many of our Platform promises, we have a team that is committed to putting Bermudians first for the next chapter of building a better, fairer Bermuda.

“Creating more jobs, ensuring a more reasonable cost of living, and fixing the challenges facing Bermuda will not be easy, but the PLP team is ready and focused to get the job done. While there is a finite number of Cabinet members, the PLP Team consists of a team of 30, inclusive of backbenchers and Senators, and all will be working for the greater good of Bermuda.

“On behalf of the Progressive Labour Party and our Executive we congratulate the Premier on his Cabinet selection, commend our Parliamentary team for their hard work and sacrifice and look forward to chapter 2 of the PLP building a better, fairer Bermuda.”

Read More About

Category: All, News, Politics

Comments (47)

Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed

  1. Me says:

    Well if Craig can come back i guess Zane can too lol

    • Double S says:

      Shhh. Don’t point out the double standards.

      • 2 Bermudas says:

        Port Royal going to get a makeover. Titty milk drinka!! Ha ha ha!!

    • Maria Wright says:

      ohh… fine

      • Black Soil says:

        As Bermuda’s finances begine to deteriorate, Crypto-Burt wants to avoid being finance minister. With the post AC-buzz soon to wear off, crypt-Burt wants to stay clear of finance. He’ll just blame others for his terrible economic policies.

  2. Dready says:

    Zane, you gonna push Uber?

    • DeOnion says:

      His mate got $1.2m so he’s happy.

    • Go Zane says:

      Yes! Finally some energy in tourism and transport!!! Go Zane!!

      • paul says:

        Like Zane or not he sure will be a better tourism minister than what we have now, thank you Premier.

      • red rose says:

        Lol right, I bet we see a casino now :)

  3. watching says:

    Solid decisions bringing Dickinson into cabinet, and Zane’s energy is much valued.
    Looking forward to the throne speech and next year’s legislative agenda!

  4. Kevin says:

    This Comedy act is getting better by the day , should’ve switched Caines and Burch and made Furbert minister of North Rock affairs while he was at it. Getting another party member on the payroll and expanding that plp pension programme
    You can’t make this Sxxt up. Its better than watching young and restless

  5. facts of the rock says:

    just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse!

  6. High Road says:

    What is Minister of the Cabinet office??

    • sandgrownan says:

      It’s a way of giving an extra paycheque to a loyal servant with said loyal servant having to do anything

      • High Road says:

        I see , thanks for clearing that up!

        • Coffee says:

          Minister of Cabinet Office will keep the Premier abreast of any and all developments concerning Brexit and the implications on Bermuda in particular.

          I could see the Sand Growning in your heads .

  7. red rose says:

    Minister without portfolio with responsibility for communications and consultation!!! what a joke, what a waste of money!

    • shrew says:

      well… that’s what people voted for! they shouldn’t be shocked that the PLP wastes our money. c’mon!

    • Paul says:

      What a joke indeed… Simmons, has never been much of a politician, he needs to retire from politics.

    • Paul says:

      The minister without a portfolio who is responsible for communications and consultation !!
      The public has to pay for his salary, come on Premier fire his #$%.

  8. hmmmm says:

    So cabinet has increased in size?
    And why do we need a minister to handle communications when we have a communications department with a director making six figures? Also, why a minster for cabinet? Is that not something that has normally and for good reason come under the premier.

  9. question says:

    So it does appear that videoing yourself sexually harassing young girls will not get you fired.

  10. Something is Majorly Wrong says:

    Blurt math 101:

    So he says I reduced the number of ministries BUT he did not reduce the number of Ministers! KEY FACT!! With Mr Dickinson taking on finance that is an additional paycheck.

    Burt – Premier – he cashes in anyway and has departments
    Caines – National Security with immigration added. So Walton must be vexed. – PROMOTION – must be his love of milk
    Dickinson – finance – PROMOTION
    Zane – tourism and transport – takes transport from Roban – PROMOTION
    Roban – Home Affairs – taken from Walton – but it is now watered down without immigration. Bit of a joke ministry now – DEMOTION
    Lovitta – out of government reform – scrapped. She is labour, community affairs and sport – SIDEWAYS MOVE
    Walton Brown – minister for cabinet office – DEMOTION!!
    Kathy Simmons – legal affairs – weird given her continuing legal issues!
    Burch – stays the same
    Rabain – education (no labour or workforce) DEMOTION
    MINISTER OF PROPAGANDA – J. Simmons -

    That is still 11 paychecks and civil servants!!!

    • Something is Majorly Wrong says:

      oops Minister of Health as well – so what has been reduced?!?!?!?! the picture shows 11 ministers plus the premier.
      the premier says that he reduced the size of the cabinet . please explain

    • Something is Majorly Wrong says:

      BURT SAYS 10 Ministries – BUT IN FACT HE HAS NOW HAS 12 PEOPLE THAT WILL COLLECT PAYCHECKS THAT SIT IN CABINET

      HE IS NOT COUNTING HIMSELF OR HIS MINISTER OF PROPAGANDA AS MINSITRIES. THAT IS WRONG AND FALSE. HE IS LYING TO YOU BERMUDA. COSTS OF HIS CABINET JUST INCREASED NOT DECREASED.

      THE PREMIER HAS DEPARTMENTS AND THE MINISTER OF PROPAGANDA WILL HAVE THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNCIATIONS AND INFORMATION AT HIS DISPOSAL

      • Double S says:

        Do you think their supporters care if they are lied to or misled by this Government?

    • Carpe Diem says:

      Walton and Jamahl are the big losers.
      There is real concern about immigration – processing has ground to a halt, and businesses have been complaining loudly.
      Everyone seems to have forgotten Kim Wilson – still in health, presumably.
      Home Affairs might as well be Environment, plus Registrar General. But I Would not say it is a demotion – more of a sideways move.
      What happens to Economic Development? That was the other half of Jamahl’s Ministry.

      • Something is Majorly Wrong says:

        How many of these lot also have a full paycheck from other entities in addition to claiming a FULLTIME minister salary? I wonder if Zane and Kim call themselves FULLTIME? Has Curtis resigned from the Bank?

  11. enough says:

    what about kim Wilson

    • Something is Majorly Wrong says:

      I now included her. the salary overall in cabinet has increased. so there are more people doing less with more money! burt the blurt expects no one to question! his minister of legal affairs has been exposed today as someone involved in lots of legal affairs and her husband works for her.

  12. Mark says:

    It always baffles me how zane has so many lives. he has done so much harm to our country and still gets support. shocking. smh

  13. Concerned says:

    Zane DeSilva is a real problem. POOR BERMUDA

  14. red rose says:

    So the Minister of Propaganda has no conflict? hahahahaha!

  15. JLG says:

    Where is the milk man?

  16. Trump supporter says:

    My my my.
    Well done voters.

  17. Dready says:

    De fox is in the henhouse! Bermuda will be third world in 5 yrs when the debt service becomes too much. Ferries will be unreliable, buses non existent and roads a mess.don’t worry our present crop will be laying back down south cooling out. We lot will be here reminiscing about them good old UBP days

  18. kevin says:

    Now all of you voted for the Green Machine you can now take credit for this increase in Government payroll, hell the first 11 didn’t do anything now up to 13…. is there anyone you voted in can actually get the economy stimulated or maintain expenditure….not zane he helped turn a 12 million dollar golf course project into 20+ million
    Who is responsible for doing any real work
    stop the photo ops boys and girls

  19. Comfortably numb says:

    Could have been worse if Flip Flop had been made Finance Minister

  20. WSP says:

    So Walton is minister of cabinet,so is tbat really mean’s a glorified janitor.
    And Jamahl is getting paid to do nothing.The brilliance of Burt again.

  21. Stevie says:

    Burt gives up finance…hmm desilva back…hmm Weeks gone….. Seems a replay of PLP regime when last in power. Hiding the evidence…again.