JAMAICA can expect a smaller Cabinet when Prime Minister Bruce Golding completes a reshuffle, originally planned for early next year, a highly-placed Government source told the Observer yesterday.

“I know that the prime minister had planned to do the reshuffle in January; however, with all the speculations being reported in the media now I would not be surprised if he does it before the end of this year,” the source said.

“What we are likely to see is a merging of ministries,” the source added, but declined to say how many ministries will be affected by the cut.

The prime minister, according to the source, was holding his cards close to his chest.

Earlier at a post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, minister with responsibility for information, Daryl Vaz said that the prime minister had hinted months ago that he would be reshuffling his Cabinet.

He, however, could not provide details on the pending shake-up.

“…I wouldn’t expect the prime minister to signal any changes that he is going to make until such times as he is ready to make those changes,” Vaz told journalists.

Asked whether his colleagues were anxious about the reshuffle, Vaz said “I am sure it must be of concern depending on how you look at things.”

“In my case, I am only happy to serve and if it is that my service is no longer needed, then I can only say it was good while I served,” he added.

If the reshuffle becomes a reality, it would be the third time that the prime minister would be shaking up the Cabinet in the three-year reign of his ruling Jamaica Labour Party.

The last shake-up in 2009 saw Colonel Trevor MacMillan being removed from the helm of the Ministry of National Security, and the sacking of then energy minister Clive Mullings.

MacMillan, who had replaced Derrick Smith as security minister, was replaced by Senator Dwight Nelson, while James Robertson — who is now at the centre of a controversy following damning allegations made against him by a member of his West St Thomas constituency — took over the portfolio of energy and mining.

Meanwhile, Vaz announced yesterday that the steering committee for the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project, which was recently relocated from the energy ministry portfolio to the Office of the Prime Minister, will be chaired by Chris Zacca, special advisor to the prime minister.

He also informed that a ministerial committee has been established for the project and this will be chaired by the prime minister while members will include Robertson, as well as Finance Minister Audley Shaw, Junior Energy Minister Laurence Broderick and junior minister of foreign affairs, Marlene Malahoo-Forte.

The Steering Committee will be responsible for financial investment decisions, development of project value chain, project commercial structure, and execution of contracts, among other things.