Daraine Luton, Staff Reporter

The minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister could have stepped down to make room for Derrick Smith, University of the West Indies (UWI) lecturer and political commentator Richard Crawford says.

At the same time, Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller has expressed concern about the addition of a new minister. In a release Monday, Simpson Miller said after the Jamaica Labour Party promised a lean Cabinet, "another member has been added to what is already the largest Cabinet in Jamaica's history".

Smith, who failed to stem murders in his eight-month tenure as national security minister, was made minister of mining and telecommunications this week, taking a slice of the Clive Mullings' ministry, which included energy.

"Another minister for Jamaicans at this time is quite a cost, especially given current conditions," Crawford told The Gleaner in reaction to news that the Cabinet had been increased to 19 members.

Nearly $5 billion was budgeted to be spent in the Ministry of Mining, Energy and Telecommunications. However, the split could send the cost up.

At year end 2007, it cost $66 million to pay the basic salaries of Cabinet ministers. But with the 20 per cent increase that took effect in January, the figure soared past $81 million.

More changes

Adding another ministry will also require changes on official documents, stamps and signs. Crawford said the prime minister "would have to have an extremely compelling reason to buy into this additional minister".

It was not clear whether new staff would have to be hired and how much more Golding's decision would dig into the pockets of taxpayers.

Up to Monday night, senior Cabinet member Karl Samuda could not confirm whether the transfer of Smith would require another permanent secretary and junior minister.

Smith is the Jamaica Labour Party's most senior deputy leader and some political commentators have said Golding could not have relegated him to the back benches.

"If it is the case that the prime minister feels compelled to keep Smith as a minister, he could have asked the minister in his office to step down," Crawford said.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding had made James Robertson a minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister.

At the time it was announced, the prime minister was sharply criticised for the size of his Cabinet but stoutly defended having 18 members.

"The Cabinet that I have chosen has been very carefully structured and, in my judgement, it is what is necessary, it is what is appropriate for the challenges that face us at this time," Golding said at the swearing-in ceremony for his Cabinet last September.

"An 18-member Cabinet does not necessarily signify a big government. I am mindful of the enormous expectation that exists about the Government that I lead," Golding said then.

A minister's basic pay is $4.2 million per year while a junior minister gets more than $3.7 million per year.

daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com