Barbados Today

HAMILTON — New Premier Craig Cannonier vowed to start announcing his new cabinet team today.

And he promised “big changes” from the first new government in 14 years.

After he was formally sworn in as premier at Government House, he said: “You will be hearing about appointments very swiftly – within the next day.

“We need to move as swiftly as possible.”

And he said he would keep pre-election promises to ask a member of the PLP to join the government in some role.

Cannonier said that PLP members had “already extended their arms to him” and he had responded.

He added: “I will be making these calls to ensure we all move forward together, everyone with one voice.

“Our first priority is to look at the financial state of our country and set realistic goals as to what we can and cannot do.

“I will live up to these promises – but I haven’t chosen that person.”

Cannonier said: “It’s a bit historic what has taken place and the One Bermuda Alliance has always said, from the beginning, that this is about not leaving anyone behind.”

Cannonier added that he would call for parliament to reconvene early in the New Year.

After the ceremony, OBA heavyweight and former shadow Finance Minister Bob Richards, a racing certainty for Finance in the new administration, said: “The first thing we have got to do is look under the hood and see what’s under there.

“We don’t know yet. Once we do that, then we can have something meaningful to say. I know what you know, what’s in the public domain – and that’s not all there is.”

Asked if a pledge to create 2000 jobs in five years was achievable, Richards said: “I wouldn’t have made that promise if it wasn’t.” (Bermuda Sun)