Dr Andrew Wheatley and Robert Montegue have gotten the nod of approval to return to their seats as Cabinet ministers after being bestowed their instruments of office on Wednesday (September 17) at King’s House.

Following decisive constituency victories in the recently concluded General Election, the pair received their instruments of office from Governor-General Sir Patrick Allen following the decision of Dr Andrew Holness, who was re-appointed prime minister for a third term.

He was sworn into office less than 24 hours before the 18-member Cabinet names and respective ministries were announced.

Wheatley, an embattled former energy minister, believed to be a confidant of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) leader, was, in 2020, referred to the director of corruption prosecutions in a damning report released.

Back then, the director of investigation was caustic in his characterisation of Wheatley’s response to specific questions during a probe into donations made by Petrojam to various organisations and causes between April 2016 and March 2018.

According to the report, the former minister “was dishonest in his representations concerning Ms Sophia Deer and whether he sought to mislead and did mislead the director of investigation.”

The pieces of legislation cited that Wheatley may have breached include Section 48(3) of the Integrity Commission Act, Section 11E of the Commission of Enquiry Act, and Section 4 of the Perjury Act.

However, Wheatley will start a new slate as minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister responsible for science, technology and special projects; while Montague has become minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development responsible for land titling and settlements.

One other major change imposed by the Holness-led administration is the merger of the Ministry of Justice with the previous Ministry of Legal and Constitutional Affairs. Delroy Chuck will lead that ministry.

On the part of Dr Andrew Holness, he will lead the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development.

For other ministries, here are all appointees:

• Dr Horace Chang remains as deputy prime minister and Minister of National Security and Peace
• Fayval Williams as Minister of Finance and the Public Service
• Senator Kamina Johnson Smith as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade
• Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism
• Dr Christopher Tufton, Minister of Health and Wellness
• Olivia Grange, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport
• Senator Dana Morris Dixon, Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information
• Senator Aubyn Hill, Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce
• Desmond McKenzie, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development
• Pearnel Charles Jnr, Minister of Labour and Social Security;
• Daryl Vaz, Minister of Transport, Telecommunications and Energy
• Floyd Green, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining
• Matthew Samuda, Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change
• Audrey Marks, minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister responsible for Efficiency, Innovation and Digital Transformation
• Robert Morgan, minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development with responsibility for Works.