Prime Minister Mia Mottley has presented a comprehensive justification for her newly appointed 23-member Cabinet, characterizing the expanded ministerial structure as a deliberate strategic move to enhance governmental efficiency, accountability, and service delivery. During Monday’s swearing-in ceremony at CARIFESTA House, where ministers and senators took their oaths before President Jeffrey Bostic, Mottley addressed concerns regarding the cabinet’s size by emphasizing its purposeful design.
The Prime Minister articulated that the cabinet composition represents a carefully calibrated framework specifically engineered to address contemporary national challenges. “This is not merely a list of names,” Mottley asserted. “It constitutes a deliberately balanced structure, meticulously selected and reconfigured to confront current realities with strategic precision.”
Mottley highlighted the elevation of several key portfolios as reflective of the administration’s priorities. The creation of dedicated ministries for Public Service and Talent Development, Investment (both public and private), and Economic Affairs signals the government’s focus on critical areas requiring improved performance. “Our public service functions as the nation’s delivery engine,” Mottley explained. “Barbados’s next developmental phase will ultimately succeed or falter based on service quality. We must achieve greater efficiency, responsiveness, and precision in serving our citizens.”
The investment portfolio’s establishment addresses economic resilience concerns, with Mottley noting that while tax collection performance remains strong, the tax base itself remains vulnerable. “Our continued progress fundamentally depends on driving investment—both domestic and foreign,” she stated.
The cabinet maintains several key figures in their positions while introducing strategic reassignments. Santia Bradshaw continues as Deputy Prime Minister, now overseeing Environment, National Beautification and Fisheries. Ryan Straughn retains the Finance portfolio, while Kerrie Symmonds assumes responsibility for Energy, Business Development and Commerce. Notable appointments include Senator Jerome Walcott as Senior Minister for Social and Environmental Policy and Senator Christopher Sinckler as Senior Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.
Mottley simultaneously announced plans to establish a National Competitiveness Commission, designed to identify and address systemic obstacles to national productivity across sectors from tourism to street vending.
The Prime Minister directly addressed public frustrations with government services, acknowledging that citizens evaluate governance based on lived experience rather than policy documents. “People don’t exist on spreadsheets,” Mottley observed. “They live according to whether buses arrive punctually, roads remain safe, and utilities function reliably.”
Improving execution pace will constitute a central mission of the new term, with Mottley emphasizing that comprehensive reform requires efforts beyond the political class. “Achieving world-class public service demands collective commitment from both the political leadership and the entire civil service apparatus,” she concluded.