Jamaica House yesterday confirmed that the governor general, acting on the advice of the Public Service Commission, has approved the decision to shift Dr Wesley Hughes, director general of the Planning Institute of Jamaica, to the finance ministry to replace Sharon Crooks as financial secretary.

Specific responsibilities

Crooks has been assigned to the World Bank as adviser to the executive director, with specific responsibilities for the Caribbean.

This is a minor victory for Crooks, who had reportedly rejected the initial proposal to move her to the Ministry of Mining and Energy where she would have served as permanent secretary.

Instead, Hillary Alexander, chief technical director (Public Sector Modernisation) in the Cabinet Office, will assume the role of permanent secretary in the Ministry of Mining and Energy.

Replacements

Alexander will replace Marcia Forbes, who resigned after she was told that she would be moved to Jamaica House to work with Daryl Vaz as director general in charge of information and telecommunications.

Forbes argued that this would represent a conflict of interest as she is a leading shareholder in a production company, which would be in direct competition with entities which fall under the information portfolio.

The present director general in charge of information and telecommunications, Dr Jean Dixon, has been moved to the Ministry of Health to replace Dr Grace Allen-Young, who has retired.