Rearranging the Dominos in Dominica's Cabinet

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 000019 SIPDIS AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN PASS TO AMEMBASSY GRENADA E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/01/22 TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL XL SUBJECT: Rearranging the Dominos in Dominica's Cabinet DERIVED FROM: DSCG 05-1 (B),(D) -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit announced his new cabinet at an event in the National Stadium on the 4th of January. Fifteen ministerial positions will be parsed out among 18 MPs, almost half of whom are new to government. Skerrit added Foreign Affairs and Information Technology to his domain, but gave up national security to ex Freedom Party MP Charles Savarin. Skerrit is also the rotating Chairman of both CARICOM and the Monetary Council of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, in addition to his growing domestic responsibilities. Keeping a tighter rein on foreign affairs tracks with Skerrit's penchant for conducting personal diplomacy with Venezuela and China. Close Skerrit associates will control key government functions in the new government. Critics have quipped that, while many new ministers lack experience in their portfolio, their ability to say yes to Skerrit is top notch. -------------- Cabinet Announced -------------- ¶2. (U) At a party rally in the national stadium January 4, Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit announced the composition of his new cabinet. Ministers and their portfolios are listed below: Roosevelt Skerrit : Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Foreign Affairs and Information Technology Charles Savarin: Minister for National Security, Labour and Immigration Rayburn Blackmore: Minister for Public Work, Energy and Ports Colin McIntyre: Minister for Employment, Trade, Industry and Diaspora Affairs Ambrose George: Minister for Information, Telecommunication and Constituency Empowerment Ian Douglas: Minister for Tourism and Legal Affairs (New) Dr. Kenneth Darroux: Minister for the Environment, Natural Resources, Physical Planning and Fisheries Mathew Walters: Minister for Agriculture and Forestry Julius Timothy: Minister for Health Reginald Austrie: Minister for Lands, Housing, Settlements and Water Resource Management (New) Petter Saint Jean: Minister for Education and Human Resource Development Francine Baron-Royer: Attorney General �A; (New) Gloria Shillingford: Minister for Social Services, Community Development and Gender Affairs (New) Justina Charles: Minister for Culture, Youth and Sports (New) Ashton Graneau: Minister for Carib Affairs (New) Alvin Bernard: (New Position) Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (New) Kelver Darroux: Parliamentary Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister (New) Johnson Drigo: Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Public Works, Energy and Ports (New) Ivor Stephenson: Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Housing, Settlements and Water Resource Management -------------- Not many surprises -------------- ¶3. (C) There were a few surprises on the list, including the placement of Timothy for Minister of Health, considering that newcomer Dr. Darroux was a practicing Doctor and that Charles was a nurse earlier in her career. Speculation holds that Dr. Darroux is not on particularly close terms with Skerrit, and that Timothy, by winning a tight race in Roseau North, deserved an award. According to the opposition, the same dynamic played into the selection of St. John for Education despite his lack of schooling beyond the high school level as compensation for defeating Ron Green, the leader of the opposition,. Bernard was also likely given his position in Foreign Affairs as encouragement for losing a very tight race in Roseau Central, where the DLP is generally weak. Savarin as a unelected Minister for the second cabinet shows that Skerrit is still playing politics and wants to keep a ex Freedom Party leader around. ¶4. (C) It was expected by some that Vince Henderson could have been retained in some capacity, but apparently not in the Cabinet. Henderson, who had served formerly as Education Minister and then Foreign Minister, is younger than Skerrit and seen as very ambitious, but had a public dispute in the news with the PM. Henderson decided early not to contest his seat and instead was the campaign manager for the DLP. Many believe Henderson has been sidelined by Skerrit as a potential threat, as Henderson has charisma and competence to back up his popularity. ¶5. (C) There was a rash of retirements and six new Ministers in the cabinet. The cabinet was also expanded and now represents 15 ministers, up from 13 before the election. The Minister of State in Foreign Affairs is a new position, and will likely manage the day-to-day business of the Foreign Ministry while allowing Skerrit to stay personally engaged in key relationships - notably with Venezuela and China. Skerrit's position as the rotating Chairman of both CARICOM for six months and the ECCB Monetary Council for a year already provide for significant regional diplomatic engagement. Environment was split off from Health and combined with other functions. There were a number of minor changes, as portfolios were altered slightly. Two new female MPs were elected to Parliament with both given Ministerial portfolios; Social Services, Community Development and Gender Affairs; and Culture, Youth and Sports. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶6. (C) Skerrit further consolidated his hold on power and kept his close associates in positions of influence. The PM and his closest political allies -- Colin McIntyre, Rayburn Blackmore and Ambrose George -- control financial levers over domestic constituencies, the interaction with Venezuela and China, the treasury and the connections with the Diaspora. This gives the group a close hold on those factors that are the most important in maintaining their grip on power. As Skerrit continues to centralize power, detractors say, the quality of his associates has deteriorated into yes men, as people of influence within his own party are often pushed aside as potential rivals, or choose other vocations. Skerrit's decision to move foreign affairs under the Prime Ministry likely highlights a desire to more closely manage key relationships personally - notably with Venezuela and China, both of whom are significant sources of funding. The Chairmanship of both CARICOM and the ECCB Monetary Council are additional stresses to Skerrit's already substantial domestic responsibilities. Bio notes on new cabinet members are forthcoming in septel. End Comment. GOGGIN