KINGSTON, Jamaica – Principal Director at National Integrity Action, Danielle Archer, has stated that it is “conspicuous” that the former Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Marlene Malahoo Forte, has not been reappointed to the Cabinet.
According to Archer, this is especially so, given the scale of public investment and the government’s declared ambitions around constitutional reform.
“Naturally, this raises the question: what happens next? Has the reform agenda been paused, redirected, or quietly shelved?,” she asked.
Archer noted that the portfolio has now been reattached to the Ministry of Justice, where some argue it has always belonged.
“But that shift, coupled with the absence of the previous minister, invites deeper scrutiny. Is this a signal of institutional realignment or political retreat? The appointments raise one unavoidable question: is constitutional reform still a priority, or has it become a casualty of convenience?”
Malahoo Forte, who was re-elected to the St James West Central seat in the September 3 General Election, is the only member of the old Cabinet who was dropped by Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness. She had led the Ministry of Legal and Constitutional Affairs which was created to drive the constitutional reform process.
With her out of the Cabinet, Delroy Chuck’s Ministry of Justice has been renamed the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
Meanwhile, Archer said the return of individuals facing (or who have faced) serious allegations of corruption is hardly surprising.
“When the public remains unaware of which senators and members of parliament from the previous administration are under investigation for illicit enrichment and when the prime minister himself has yet to transparently address his own inquiries, it signals a troubling normalisation of opacity,” said Archer.
“What’s more telling is that questions surrounding the integrity of political leadership did not hinder their re-election. That reality reflects a deeper truth: for many voters and citizens alike, ideals like accountability, transparency, and ethical governance have not yet become decisive electoral criteria,” she added.
“Until citizens demand more, until we insist that integrity is non-negotiable, we will continue to see the same patterns repeat; business as usual. In that vacuum of public demand, corruption thrives not as an exception, but as a feature of the system”.
Archer also said it was noteworthy that several retirements are anticipated, which all but guarantees a cabinet reshuffle in short order.
“For now, ministers either continue in a business-as-usual capacity or serve as placeholders—drafted in to maintain appearances while the political deck is quietly reshuffled.
“The current configuration feels provisional, and the public should be alert to what these transitional choices signal about the administration’s priorities and long-term intentions,” she said.
The prime minister has indicated on several occasions this week that the Cabinet is a holding on with several older members signalling their departure timeline.
At Friday’s swearing-in of junior ministers at King’s House, he stated that the renewal process had started and that he expected some Cabinet members to depart during the current parliamentary term, and others at the end of the term.