Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Jeremiah Norbert, was sworn in as the newest Minister of Cabinet on March 4. He will now hold the portfolio of Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Crime Prevention and Persons with Disabilities.
Hon. Norbert makes history as the first minister assigned to specifically oversee persons living with disabilities in Saint Lucia. This isn’t his first historic achievement within the political field. In July 2021 Hon. Norbert was elected the member of Parliament for Micoud (north), a seat never before won by the Saint Lucia Labour Party.
At the March 2024 swearing-in ceremony, Minister Norbert took the Oath of Cabinet and addressed the gathering.
“Cabinet colleagues, I stand here with a heart full of gratitude to God for the opportunity to serve my country. I thank the esteemed Prime Minister Hon. Philip J. Pierre for entrusting me with this responsibility; it is one that I will not take lightly. To my constituents, I owe you a debt of gratitude. Your support has been the bedrock of my political journey. I am humbled by your trust in me, and I will continue to put you first.
“I want to commend the Prime Minister for his groundbreaking initiative particularly in the establishment of a designated Minister for Persons with Disabilities. This historic step will undoubtedly bring hope to the disabled community in Saint Lucia and will send a strong message to the country and the international community that we are committed to eliminating the discriminatory barriers that people living with disabilities face. My aim is to ensure the full integration of persons living with disabilities in our country’s development. I am personally cognizant of the struggles that one faces when faced with a disability and I am committed to working to foster a resilient and more inclusive society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.”
Regarding the new minister’s crime prevention portfolio, Prime Minister Hon. Philip J. Pierre said: “The Government of Saint Lucia believes that crime is only reduced when all parties are actively involved in crime suppression strategies.
The government further attempts to do so by the appointment of a minister responsible for crime prevention who will work with all parties to develop a multifaceted, comprehensive, and inclusive national plan to address security challenges. The plan will address the root cause of criminal activity particularly murders, gun related crimes, gang warfare and rivalry. The intention is to use all existing plans, organizations, and best practices applicable to our situation, with the aim to make our country a more peaceful place. I have assigned this portfolio of crime reduction to the newly-appointed minister, Hon. Jeremiah Norbert, who is well placed to understand the challenges that young people in our community face. The Cabinet of Ministers is committed to working with him as we aim to improve our country.”
The prime minister added that Hon. Jeremiah Norbert, a former law enforcement official, is well placed to understand the challenges that young people face. Minister Norbert will work closely with the prime minister who will continue to hold the portfolio of National Security.
