President France Albert Rene has re-shaped his Cabinet for 2004, with two new ministers taking portfolios in January and three of the present ministers retiring at the end of this year.

The two new ministers are Mr Vincent Meriton, who will head the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, and Mr Joel Morgan, who will have responsibility for the Ministry of Land Use and Habitat.

The outgoing ministers are Mrs Simone de Comarmond, Minister for Tourism and Transport; Mr William Herminie, Minister for Agriculture and Marine Resources; and Mr Dolor Ernesta, Minister for Social Affairs and Employment.

Mrs de Comarmond and Mr Herminie have been ministers since 1989 while Mr Ernesta has served as minister since 1993.

In the Cabinet reshuffle, the Designated Minister, Mr Joseph Belmont, presently Minister for Land Use and Habitat, will become the new Minister for Tourism and Transport.

Mr Ronny Jumeau, the current Minister for Environment, will head a new enlarged Ministry of Environment & Natural Resources, which will incorporate the portfolios of the present Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources. Mr Jumeau has in the past headed that ministry.

Mr Meriton, aged 43, the new Minister for Social Affairs and Employment, has been principal secretary in the Ministry of Local Government since earlier this year, having previously been director general for Local Government, for Youth and for Employment. He served as National Secretary of the National Workers' Union and Secretary General of the Seychelles Federation of Workers' Union between 1991 and 1995.

Mr Morgan, aged 42, the new Minister for Land Use and Habitat, has been principal secretary in the same ministry since 2001 and previously served as PS in the Ministry of Industries and International Business. Prior to that he was director general of the Seychelles Bureau of Standards.

Announcing the Cabinet changes, a spokesman at State House said: "The President is deeply appreciative of the contribution made by the outgoing ministers to the work of the Government during their period of service and he looks forward to their continuing participation in national life and the ongoing development of the country."

The new ministerial appointments will take affect on January 5, 2004. The outgoing ministers will leave their posts on December 31, 2003.

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