New ministers sworn into office |03 February 2015

The new cabinet: (from l to r) Didier Dogley, Idith Alexander, Jean-Paul Adam, Joel Morgan, Vice-President Danny Faure, President James Michel, Vincent Meriton, Macsuzy Mondon, Christian Lionnet, Charles Bastienne, Michael Benstrong and Wallace Cosgrow. Absent is Mitcy Larue

The four new ministers appointed last week by President James Michel in a government restructuring, were sworn into office yesterday morning during a ceremony at State House.

The four new ministers are Wallace Cosgrow for Fisheries and Agriculture; Didier Dogley for Environment, Energy and Climate Change, Michael Benstrong for Investment, Entrepreneurship Development and Business Innovation and Charles Bastienne for Home Affairs.

They each took and signed three oaths – oath of allegiance to the constitution, oath of office and oath of secrecy. These were taken in front of President Michel.

The ministers have now officially taken their new positions.

Vice-President Danny Faure, other ministers, the speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Patrick Herminie, the two outgoing ministers Pierre Laporte and Peter Sinon, other invited guests and close family members of the four new ministers also witnessed the occasion.

After the oaths the four new ministers and other members of the Cabinet joined President Michel and Vice-President Faure in a family photo after which each minister and their immediate family members present took a souvenir photograph with President Michel and Vice-President Faure.

The ministers and their families were then congratulated by President Michel and Vice- President Faure as well as all the guests present.

Outgoing ministers Laporte and Sinon also had words of support and encouragement for the new ministers.