Briceno Reshuffles Cabinet

Prime Minister John Briceño has reshuffled his Cabinet, placing National Security under Michel Chebat and appointing Ramon “Monchi” Cervantes Jr. and Dr. Osmond Martinez to ministerial positions.

The changes, announced on Tuesday, October 6, also assign new responsibilities to several existing ministers, including Henry Charles Usher, as the Briceño administration reorganizes key government portfolios.

Among the most consequential changes is the appointment of Chebat as Minister of National Security, Energy and Ports, placing the country's policing and internal security responsibilities under his leadership.

The restructuring effectively incorporates the responsibilities previously associated with the Ministry of Home Affairs into the broader National Security portfolio.

Chebat's appointment follows a period during which Minister Julius Espat had served as interim minister responsible for Home Affairs. In announcing the changes, the Prime Minister specifically thanked Espat for his service in that capacity.

Espat will continue as Minister of Infrastructure Development and Housing.

The reshuffle also brings two new ministers into Cabinet, with Cervantes assuming responsibility for Public Utilities, Logistics and Solid Waste Management, while Martinez takes charge of a newly designated Economic Transformation portfolio.

Cervantes, the Orange Walk North Area Representative, will oversee public utilities alongside logistics and solid waste management. Ramiro Ramirez will remain as Minister of State within the ministry.

The appointment places Cervantes in charge of a portfolio that includes essential public services and infrastructure-related responsibilities, with implications for households, businesses and national development.

Meanwhile, Martinez assumes the position of Minister of Economic Transformation, giving him a dedicated Cabinet portfolio focused on an area central to the government's economic agenda.

Another notable adjustment involves Henry Charles Usher, who will assume the substantive ministerial post with responsibility for Enterprise.

Under the revised Cabinet structure, Usher's portfolio encompasses Public Service, Disaster Risk Management and Enterprise.

The addition of Enterprise places business-related responsibilities alongside Usher's existing public-sector and disaster management functions, although the government has not outlined the precise scope of the new assignment.

The Cabinet adjustments also clarify the distribution of responsibilities among several other ministers.

Prime Minister Briceño retains responsibility for Finance, Investment, Civil Aviation and E-Governance, while Deputy Prime Minister Cordel Hyde continues to oversee Natural Resources, Petroleum and Mining.

Francis Fonseca remains responsible for Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Education, Culture, Science and Technology, with Marconi Leal Jr. serving as Minister of State for Foreign Trade.

Rodwell Ferguson continues as Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and New Growth Industries, supported by Minister of State Alex Balona.

Other portfolios remain under their respective ministers, including Immigration, Labour and Governance under Kareem Musa; Tourism, Youth, Sports and Diaspora Relations under Anthony Mahler; and Health and Wellness under Kevin Bernard.

Orlando Habet retains Sustainable Development and Climate Change, while Oscar Requena continues with Rural Transformation, Community Development and Local Government.

Andre Perez remains responsible for Blue Economy and Marine Conservation, while Louis Zabaneh oversees Indigenous, Constitution and Religious Affairs and Transport.

Thea Ramirez retains Human Development, Family Support and Gender Affairs, and Anthony Sylvester continues as Attorney General.

The revised Cabinet listing also confirms that Ambassador Stuart Leslie will serve as Cabinet Secretary and Chief of Staff.