Two new Permanent Secretaries appointed in Gov’t Service

Two new permanent secretaries have been appointed in the Government Service, while a reshuffle of existing ones has occurred in most government ministries.

When the new Cabinet of Ministers was sworn in on November 10, several ministries were reconfigured to suit the new appointments. Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, while speaking at the swearing in ceremony, said the reshuffling of portfolios would also result in the reshuffling of some permanent secretaries.

Angie Williams-Jackson, who previously served as the executive secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister has now been appointed permanent secretary in that Office.

She is one of two new permanent secretaries to be appointed.

Dr Resa Noel-McBarnett is the second new permanent secretary and has been assigned to the Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Sustainable Development and Culture. She was previously Training Officer in the Service Commissions Department.

Three permanent secretaries remain unchanged in their respective ministries.

These are Cuthbert Knights, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health, Myccle Burke in the Ministry of Education and Sandy Peters-Phillips in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Hudson Nedd, who was the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Works, has now been reassigned to the Ministry of National Security.

The permanent secretary position in the Ministry of National Security was previously held by Yvette Pompey. She has now been assigned to the Ministry of Urban Development, Energy, Airports, Seaports, Grenadines Affairs and Local Government.

Laverne Grant, who was permanent secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, will now take up the position at the Ministry of Transport, Works, Lands and Physical Planning.

The acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of National Mobilisation, Social Development, Family, Gender Affairs, Youth, Housing and Informal Human Settlement is now Catherine De Freitas, who was previously acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of Housing.

Nerissa Gittens-McMillan, who was permanent secretary in the Ministry of National Mobilisation, will now carry out duties in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation, Industry and Labour.

And Raymond Ryan, who was permanent secretary in the agriculture ministry, has been shifted to the Ministry of the Public Service, Consumer Affairs and Sports.