Seivwright, Eldermire, Ccummings and Dixon

Wayne Cummings, President, Jamaica Hotel and Tourism Association

"I think Mr. Golding has put together quite a good team. I am particularly pleased that tourism is now a single ministry, which is really a case of treating it with the importance it deserves. I am also very confident that Edmund Bartlett will do a good job as minister. In addition to being around the industry for a long time, he understands the issues.

"I also believe the Ministry of Finance is properly supported with Audley (Shaw) at the helm and Don Wehby as a part of his team. I am really looking forward to doing business with them."

Dennis Seivwright

President of the Trelawny Chamber of Commerce

"There are very few people in this Cabinet with experience because the party has been out of government for 18 years." In fact, except for Prime Minister Bruce Golding, Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, Pearnel Charles and one or two others, it is really a team that is new to government.

"I am pleased to see Don Wehby in the Ministry of Finance as he has a very impressive track record in matters of finance, and he should be an asset to that ministry.

"However, I would want to wait and see how this new team performs because talking from the sideline is going to be much different from actually being involved in the running of a ministry."

Hugh Dixon

Chairman of the South Trelawny Environmental Agency

"I think the Cabinet is too large, especially if you take into consi-deration the criticism of the previous government by this new team when they were in opposition.

"Three key things I will definitely be looking out for are: the Cabinet's ability to make proper policy decision; their capacity to properly audit the respective ministries to ensure that the desired results are achieved; and, finally, their networking capacity in terms of sourcing the requisite expertise.

"I am a little wary of the decision not to put Dr. Ken Baugh in the Ministry of Health based on his experience in that field, and the decision to place Audley Shaw in the Ministry of Finance, where he might be lacking in some of the required skills."

Dr. Herbert Eldermire

Former Minister of Health

"When I heard the size of the Cabinet, I was surprised. I think it is quite big; 18 ministers is really a bigteam.

"However, it is good that we have three full ministers from the west in Clive Mullings, Dr. Horace Chang and Edmund Bartlett. I am expecting powerful representation for the region from them.

"I was a little bit surprised that Dr. Ken Baugh was not made Minister of Health, but I think he will do well wherever he is placed. He is a very good man and he is also a scholar."