BARBADOS - DOIN' THE CABINET SHUFFLE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 000700 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/24/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL XL SUBJECT: BARBADOS - DOIN' THE CABINET SHUFFLE Classified By: DCM Brent D. Hardt, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) A comprehensive cabinet reshuffle announced November 24 saw only five of Barbados, thirteen cabinet positions remain unchanged. The move, sold as a positive step to put the right people in the right places by the Prime Minister, was predictably criticized by the opposition. Despite the significant shake-up, no ministers lost their jobs and few appeared to be negatively effected by the changes. In all, this was more of a portfolio re-alignment to lessen the burden of underperformers and put stronger performers in key ministries. The reshuffle has resulted in a new Foreign Minister, Senator Maxine McClean, and shifts both the former Foreign Minister, Chris Sinckler and his Minister of State Donville Inniss to key domestic portfolios. End summary. -------------- - Musical Chairs for Barbados, Cabinet Ministers -------------- - ¶2. (U) Ten months after sweeping into power, Democratic Labour Party Prime Minister David Thompson has reshuffled his cabinet. Despite major changes in portfolios, no ministers lost their jobs -- though a few saw noticeable reductions in their authority. The move was roundly and predictably criticized by opposition leader Mia Mottley as a "purely political ploy and in no way helping move the country forward." The PM explained during a press conference that, after 10 months in power, he was better able to determine the strengths and weaknesses of his cabinet and sought to reorder responsibilities so his team could best serve the country. ¶3. (SBU) The loss of the environment portfolio by Minster Byer-Suckoo, who retained responsibility of Family Youth And Sports, makes her appear to be one of the individuals who was "right sized" in the reshuffle. Some Embassy contacts noted that Byer-Suckoo had enjoyed a disproportionate amount of media "face time" compared to other ministers - to include the PM - and that removing Environment from her portfolio might remove some of the "burden" of so many public appearances. Minister of Health Dr. Estwick was probably the biggest loser in the reshuffle, moving from a Ministry with the second largest line item in the budget to a vaguely-defined economic portfolio. Many say Estwick was underperforming at the Ministry, and never got a hold of the serious problems facing Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Donville Inniss, move up, taking on this troubled ministry after being a minister of state, is clearly a big promotion for him. Minister Estwick apparently disagreed strongly with the Prime Minister over whether to build a new hospital or renovate the existing Queen Elizabeth. Inniss is expected to tow the PM's line in favor of renovating (which is all that is affordable at this time). ¶4. (SBU) Foreign Minister Christopher Sinckler's shift to a domestic ministry in charge of both urban and rural development will allow this rising star in the party to strengthen his constituency base and strengthen the party where elections are decided here. Moreover, the demands of foreign travel on a Foreign Minister have often been seen as a political liability - we had heard complaints in Sinckler's constituency that the Minister was "never around" to do politically necessary constituent outreach, as he was often abroad on state business. By giving the MFA job to an unelected Senator, PM Thompson has positioned his MP Ministers -- and particularly Sinckler -- for re-election, political pundit Peter Wickham noted. Others have noted that Sinckler is considered one of the more capable ministers, so his move to rural development might also be seen as a recognition of the government's need to address rural issues. (Note: Bio for new FONMIN Maxine McClean at end of cable. End note.) ¶5. (SBU) One prominent business figure and former BLP minister conceded that Sinckler's reassignment would shore up the government's political standing in the rural and urban constituencies, but predictably had little else positive to say about either the changes or the government's performance to date. Estwick's assignment to an economic development portfolio was characterized as the "kiss of death" for economic development in the country, the Attorney General was lambasted for "doing nothing" to move forward critical legislation, and new FONMIN Maxine McClean was described as having the full confidence of the PM, but also as unqualified, opinionated, and unapproachable. -------------- Ministers and Ministries Scorecard -------------- ¶6. (U) Cabinet Changes: -- Attorney General and Minister of Home Affairs Freundel Stuart will retain his portfolio as attorney general, while being promoted to Deputy Prime Minister. -- Minister Michael Lashley will retain responsibility for the Ministry of Housing and Lands. -- Minister Haynesley Benn will retain responsibility for the Ministry Agriculture, while losing responsibility for rural development. -- Minister David Estwick will take over responsibility for the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Empowerment, Innovation, Trade, Industry and Commerce. This "new" ministry takes on economic affairs from the PM's portfolio; and trade, industry and commerce from Minister George Hutson's previous portfolio. -- Minister Ronald Jones will retain responsibility for the Ministry of Education and Human Resources. -- Minister Richard Sealy will retain responsibility for the Ministry of Tourism. -- Minister George Hutson will assume responsibility for the Ministry of International Business and International Transportation. This "new" ministry brings together parts of portfolios handled previously by FONMIN Sinckler and Transportation Minister John Boyce. It splits civil aviation and some ports authority out of Boyce's previous portfolio. -- Minister Maxine McClean will assume responsibility for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade. -- Minister Steven Blackett will retain responsibility for the Ministry of Community Development and Culture. -- Minister John Boyce will retain responsibility for the Ministry of Transportation, but lose International Transportation. -- Minister Dr. Ester Byer-Suckoo will retain responsibility for the Ministry of Family, Youth and Sports, but lose Environment. -- Minister Dr. Denis Lowe will assume responsibility for the Ministry of Environment, Water Resources and Drainage. The newly reconstituted ministry was created by pulling in the environmental portfolio from the Ministry of Family, Sports and Youth Affairs and the water portfolio from the Ministry of Health. The Island has recently faced major disruptions due to flooding during this year's hurricane season, which saw schools closed on three separate occasions. The choice to move the water resources portfolio under a minister of environment and adding water drainage as a cabinet-level responsibility shows the government's sensitivity to constituent complaints over the past few months, as well as a recognition that something has to be done to improve water drainage systems. -- Minister Donville Inniss will assume responsibility for the Ministry of Health. Inniss, previously Minister of State in the Foreign Minister, is also a competent, no-nonsense leader whose appointment should be seen as a promotion. By giving him the daunting task of fixing the badly broken Queen Elizabeth Hospital, PM Thompson seems to be placing strong confidence in Inniss' ability to deliver on a high-visibility problem. -- Minister Christopher Sinckler will assume responsibility for the Ministry of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Rural and Urban Development. ¶7. (C) Note: Political observers noted that the promotion of Stuart to the post of Deputy PM signals a consolidation of Thompson's power and his increased confidence in his one-time rival. Pundits posit that this demonstrates that Thompson now feels he is firmly in control of the party and is no longer threatened by Stuart. End note. -------------- Biographic Information, Maxine McClean -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Senator Maxine McClean, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, is a leader of government business in the Senate and the former Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office with responsibility for immigration matters. She is a management consultant who heads the firm Strategic Interventions, Inc. She is a graduate and former lecturer in the Department of Management Studies, UWI Cave Hill, where she taught for 17 years. In 1979, Senator McClean was awarded an OAS scholarship to pursue graduate studies at Ohio University where she gained a MBA in 1981 and a MA in International Affairs in 1982. She also received a Fulbright Fellowship to Louisiana State University in 1986, where she completed two years of a Doctoral program. McClean is competent and approachable. It is too early to tell, though, whether she will let the civil service in MFA lead on foreign policy, or attempt to take a more activist role. Sinckler had begun to question some of the bureaucracy's positions, notably on U.N. voting patterns, just prior to his re-assignment, and we will encourage McClean to continue along these lines. HARDT