Prime Minister Bruce Golding last night dropped Karl Samuda and Dorothy Lightbourne from the Cabinet and returned Clive Mullings to his former post as mining and energy minister in his long-promised shuffle of the executive.

Golding also named House Speaker Delroy Chuck as minister of justice and announced that that portfolio will be separated from that of attorney general in keeping with the recommendations of the commission of enquiry into the Government’s handling of the United States’ extradition request for Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke and the hiring by the Government of US law firm Manatt, Phelps and Phillips in the matter.

In a late night release from Jamaica House, Golding also said that Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Dr Christopher Tufton has been reassigned to the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, which was held by Samuda since the administration took office in September 2007.

The vacancy created by Tufton’s reassignment will be filled by Robert Montaque, the minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Local Government.

Arthur Williams has been appointed minister without portfolio in the Cabinet Office with responsibility for the Public Service, a move that Golding said is in keeping with the recommendation of the Public Sector Transformation Unit.

The prime minister also announced the appointments of the following persons to the positions of minister of state: Gregory Mair, Ministry of Education; Dr St Aubyn Bartlett, Ministry of National Security; and Othniel Lawrence, Ministry of Transport and Works.

They will replace the positions previously held by Dr Ronald Robinson, Everald Warmington and Aundre Franklin, the prime minister said.

Shahine Robinson, currently minister of state in the Office of the Prime Minister, will assume, in addition to her current duties, the responsibility for Local Government previously carried out by Montaque.

“The appointments will take effect from Friday, July 1, 2011 and will coincide with the reassignment of subjects, departments and agencies based on the recommendations of the Public Sector Master Rationalisation Plan developed by the Public Sector Transformation Unit and approved by the Cabinet,” Golding said.

“This includes the transfer of responsibility for the public sector from the Ministry of Finance to the Cabinet Office and the redesignation of the Ministry of Water and Housing as the Ministry of Housing, Environment and Water. This Ministry will be headed by Dr Horace Chang,” he added.

Golding also said that  with the appointment to the Cabinet of Chuck, the Government intends to nominate Deputy Speaker Marissa Dalrymple-Phillipbert for election as Speaker of the House and Tarn Peralto as Deputy Speaker.

Dwight Nelson will assume responsibility as Leader of Government Business in the Senate.

“The new ministers will be sworn in at King’s House today at 3:00 pm,” Golding said.

He also expressed appreciation to Samuda and Lightbourne for their services to the Cabinet since the start of the administration.