A woman is among five ministers named by Chief Minister Bustamante. This was his first act in his new post. Four other ministers were named, and two will be added when the chief returns from his London trip.

 

Published Thursday, May 7, 1953

BUSTAMANTE NAMES FIVE MINISTERS

-Mrs Rose Leon is in

-Two more to be selected

His first five ministers to Executive Council under the new ministerial system were named yesterday by the Hon William Bustamante, chief minister. He will name the remaining two to complete the panel of eight Elected Ministers on his return to the island from the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth in London.

His recommendation, made without assignment of particular portfolios, except in the case of the Hon Donald Sangster, who was confirmed in the Ministry of Finance, was sent to his excellency the governor yesterday.

The ministers are the Hon Donald Sangster, the Hon Isaac Barrant, the Hon Lester Simmonds, the Hon Lawton Bloomfield, the Hon Rose Leon.

The ministers attended King’s House yesterday and were presented with their warrant of appointment by his excellency the governor.

This first act of the chief minister, the naming of the five ministers, followed discussions he had with Labour Party members of the House of Representatives and executive officers of the party after approval by the House of Representatives of his own appointment on Tuesday afternoon.

History made

Only newcomer to the Cabinet is Mrs Leon whose appointment, however, has caused no surprise in political circles.

Member in the House of Representatives for Western St Andrew, Mrs Leon, as chairman of the executive of the Jamaica Labour Party, played a great part in further democratising the party than it had been before she joined it.

Her appointment makes history as she is the first woman to be named to the policy-making body of the Government under the new ministerial set-up.

She was the only Labour Party candidate to win a Corporate Area seat in the General Elections of 1949.

Messrs Sangster and Barrant have served in Executive Council since the last general election, Mr Sangster succeeding to the Ministry of Finance on the death of Sir Harold Allan.

Mr Simmonds, who was leader of the Jamaica delegation to the recent Federation conference in London, succeeded Mr JZ Malcolm in Executive Council, while Mr Bloomfield’s appointment earlier this year also followed the death of Sir Harold Allan.

Bustamante, who leaves next Wednesday for London, expects to return by mid-June.

 

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