“THE Prime Minister [Dr Andrew Holness] has a sense of humour,” quipped new minister of state in the Ministry of Tourism Tova Hamilton in her immediate response to a question from the Jamaica Observer about her reaction to being named to the executive of the new Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Administration.

“I think it was a feature in the election past that my opponent heavily emphasised this ministry and it was almost a fait accompli that he would be the minister of tourism. But in a poetic twist of fate I am here as the minister of state in tourism — not by any entitlement, but by sheer hard work, by the faith and trust of the people.

“It’s a bit kismet, I would say, that this has happened,” added Hamilton who defeated the People’s National Party’s (PNP) Dr Wykeham McNeil to retain the Trelawny Northern seat in the recent general election and was rewarded with a place in the Government.

McNeil was a former tourism minister and it was widely believed that if he had emerged victorious in Trelawny Northern he would be the choice of PNP President Mark Golding to head the tourism ministry.

A beaming Hamilton was one of 13 ministers of state, and a parliamentary secretary, sworn in at King’s House on Friday as Holness completed the naming of his executive.

Hamilton, an attorney, pointed out that tourism is not a new area for her as she did almost three years as the deputy executive director of the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo).

“So I am fully aware of some of the deficiencies — especially in my constituency — so I think it will only make sense that we will try to develop some of the products that are required to keep the tourists coming and keep the tourist dollar here.

“I am here to learn, so I am not going to be posing too much, but I do have some ideas that I would really want to flesh out,” Hamilton told the Observer.

Hamilton replaces Delano Seiveright as the junior minister in tourism in the new Administration.

Seiveright has been switched to the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, which is led by Senator Aubyn Hill.

“This is a new challenge and one that I welcome. The prime minister has made it clear that with economic stability achieved the next step is boosting long-term growth and productivity — and this ministry will be a key part of that,” Seiveright told the Observer.

“All government ministries, agencies and departments have been charged to push this growth agenda, and I will do whatever is needed to support Minister Hill in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Investment,” added Seiveright.