Tonight, there is a new Minister of Health - after the embattled and ensnared Michel Chebat was re-assigned in the first Cabinet shuffle of the Briceno administration. Former Minister of Youth, sports and E-Governance Kevin Bernard - who is a Briceno ultra loyalist - will take his place in the most important ministry of the moment.
Chebat will now take up the much lower profile portfolio of Minister of Public Utilities and Logistics - definitely a demotion. Those are taken from Rodwell Ferguson's portfolio and he will now serve as Minister of Transport, Youth and Sports. He gets Youth and Sports form Bernard - who will focus exclusively on Health and wellness - which is, by itself, a very hefty portfolio.
As for Bernard's E-governance portfolio that goes to Education Minister Francis Fonseca. And - added to the mix - there is a new portfolio assignment - Henry Charles Usher will now have the added responsibility of religious affairs - which is the first time such a post has been created. A statement from the office of the Prime Minister quotes PM Bricneo as saying quote, "Every member of Cabinet, including those whose responsibilities are being re-assigned, enjoy my full confidence...My constitutional obligation as steward of the Executive requires the fine-tuning of ministerial designations from time to time..."
But, this is more than a fine tuning. The Cabinet shuffle - all designed around Minister Chebat - comes after months of sustained pressure to remove a minister who had a hard time - it seems getting along with anyone inside or outside the Ministry. For Chebat it is a political and administrative blow to his credibility - and a suggestion of dimming future political prospects in his Cayo North constituency.
Later on in the news, Jules Vasquez will look at the rise and demise of Minister Chebat.
