Member of Parliament for Micoud North Jeremiah Norbert has resigned from his position as Deputy House Speaker.
The Office of the Prime Minister in a statement yesterday confirmed this much, adding that further updates will be provided by Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre on his return to Saint Lucia, Pierre is attending a two day CARICOM Heads of Government meeting in Guyana.
Mr Norbert will assume the role of Home Affairs Minister as Dr. Virginia Albert-Poyotte, the current minister for Home Affairs, is out of office, temporarily, due to a medical situation. A statement from government last week revealed that the minister had encountered a medical emergency on February 19 and was transported to a medical institution for treatment.
“Hon. Jeremiah Norbert will adopt her ministerial responsibilities until further notice. Further updates on Dr. Virginia Albert-Poyotte’s condition will be provided at the appropriate time,” the statement read in part.
Last week Norbert said that the Constitution is clear as to whether or not the Deputy Speaker can hold a ministerial portfolio and it does not allow for the Deputy Speaker to hold that portfolio.
“I would have to take certain pre-actions before I can be clothed with the position,” Norbert told reporters.
Pierre for his part supported Norbert’s statement.
“We said he will oversee her duties for now but you know Honourable Jeremiah Norbert until he’s sworn in is not a minister of government. If he’s sworn in then he’s a minister. What he said is that he will overlook her responsibilities but he’s not yet a Minister of Cabinet.”
While it has been reported that a swearing-in ceremony will take place this week, the Prime Minister’s Office is yet to confirm this.