By: Caribbean World News Wednesday March 10,

Barbados Prime Minister, David Thompson, last night announced some changes within his cabinet in an address to the nation.

Changes include the appointment of Trade Unionist and former Executive Director of the Barbados Employers Confederation, Harry Husbands, to the Senate as Parliamentary Secretary in the Office of Prime Minister, with specific responsibility for Immigration and the Social Partnership while Patrick Todd has been made Minister of State in the Ministry of Economic Empowerment, Trade, Industry and Commerce.

Parliamentary Secretary in the office of the Prime Minister, Senator Irene Sandiford-Garner, has been reassigned to the Ministry of Health, with specific responsibility for overseeing operations of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital while Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo has been reassigned to the Ministry of Labor.

Senator Jepter Ince has been made Parliamentary Secretary in the office of Prime Minister while Stephen Lashley, Member of Parliament for Christ Church West Central, will join the Cabinet of Ministers in the capacity of Minister of Family, Youth and Sports.

Thompson meanwhile said that the budget of the island will be presented on Monday, March 15th and in light of current global economic concerns, government will divest itself of shares in the Barbados National Bank and use the money to enhance the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.