Above: Grenada (CJ Photo)
By the Caribbean Journal staff
Grenada has named a new tourism minister as part of a Cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell.
Mitchell announced the move to name Yolande Bain-Horsford the country’s new Tourism Minister in a national address on Thursday evening.
The move came as Grenada had been seeing one of the highest rates of increase in tourist arrivals of any country in the Caribbean, according to data from the Caribbean Tourism Organization.
Otway-Noel had led the country’s “Pure Grenada” tourism rebrand, which was unveiled at the beginning of 2014, with help from advertising firm Inglefield Ogilvy.
“Alexandra Otway-Noel has capably and energetically shaped the Tourism and Civil Aviation in the last two years,” Mitchell said in his address. “Pure Grenada has proven to be a worthwhile brand that is now attracting more visitors.”
“Tourism is on the rise, with all the industry’s numbers heading in the right direction,” Mitchell said. “We have a new governing authority and a new marketing approach. The foundation has been truly laid for even more growth and development in the future.”
Mitchell said that “now that she has done the heavy lifting, it makes it relatively easier for someone else to take up the mantle.”
Mitchell attributed the appointments in part to a “promise to give members of the team different opportunities from time to time.”
Otway-Noel was one of five Ministers to receive new portfolios, receiving the title of “full minister in the Prime Minister’s office.”
The other changes including naming Clarice Modeste as Foreign Minister; Nickolas Steele as Health Minister; Oliver Joseph, who received the added portfolio of international business in addition to his existing portfolio of economic development and Brenda Hood, who received the additional responsibility of the National Lottery. (Hood had been serving as the Culture Minister.)
The moves will reportedly take effect Dec. 1.