The Hon. John Briceño was appointed
Deputy Prime Minster and Minister of Natural Resources and the
Environment, Commerce and Industry. Hon. Ralph Fonseca has been assigned
responsibilities for the Ministries of Finance and Home Affairs, and the
Hon. Mark Espat was appointed Minister of Economic Development, Tourism
and Culture.
The other ministers appointed to the Cabinet are: Hon.
Vildo Marin, Minister of Works, Transport and Communications; Hon.
Godfrey Smith, Attorney General and Minister of Foreign Affairs and
Cooperation; Hon. Cordel Hyde, Minister of Housing; Hon. Jose Coye,
Minster of Health; Hon. Marcial Mes, Minister of Human Development, Local
Government and Labor; Hon. Servulo Baeza, Minister of Agriculture and
Fisheries; and Hon. Sylvia Flores, Minister of Defense and National
Emergency Management. The Hon. Eamon Courtenay was appointed a Senator
and assigned responsibilities as Minister of Investment and Foreign
Trade. The former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Hon. Assad
Shoman, was appointed an Ambassador with ministerial rank and Chief
Foreign Affairs Representative for the Government of Belize.
Four Ministers of State were also appointed.They
are:Hon. Ainslie Leslie in the Ministry of Natural Resources, the
Environment, Commerce and Industry; Hon. Ismael Cal in the Ministry of
Agriculture and Fisheries; Hon. Agripino Cawich in the Ministry of
Finance and Home Affairs; and Hon. Dave Burgos in the Ministry of Works,
Transport and Communications.Ministers of State are not members of
Cabinet, but may attend Cabinet meetings at the invitation of the Prime
Minister.
The Prime Minister, Ministers and
Ministers of State were administered the oath of allegiance and office by
His Excellency the Governor General at a brief ceremony held this morning
at Belize House in Belmopan.
Editor's Note: The San Pedro Sun
contacted the Government Press Office in Belmopan, who stated that
specific allocations for Cooperatives, Public Utilities, Immigration,
Citrus, and Sugar Ministries were not available as of press time. These
appointments were to be discussed in a Cabinet meeting held on Tuesday,
March 11, 2003.
