New environment minister Cole Simons said he was honoured to be named a Cabinet minister and is looking forward to hitting the ground running.

“It’s something that was unexpected, but the Premier had the faith in me,” Mr Simons said.

“I was Shadow Minister of the Environment for a good ten years, so I’m fairly close to the ministry.”

Mr Simons, who has served as Government Whip since 2012, was formally named the Minister of Environment on Friday, taking over responsibility for what had been a branch of the Ministry of Health, Seniors and the Environment.

He was one of three new Cabinet ministers named during the reshuffle, along with social development and sport minister Sylvan Richards and national security minister Jeff Baron.

Speaking yesterday, Mr Simons said that sustainability would remain a focus of the ministry under his leadership, stressing the importance of the island’s environment to its economy. “Bermuda is a garden paradise, and my job is to see that it continues to be a garden paradise,” he said. “Any development that takes place needs to be sustainable. Socially sustainable, economically sustainable and physically sustainable because that’s what makes Bermuda special. You can travel anywhere in the world and never find a place like it.

“We have to manage our resources to make sure that we are able to maintain the island and its beauty because that’s what makes Bermuda successful as a tourism destination. If we want to continue to attract tourists to the country, we have to protect it.”

While he said he could not go into specifics as he was still awaiting his ministerial brief, expected to take place today, he said that one focus of his would be working to develop the fishing and farming industries on the island. “I have a keen interest in developing and supporting the agricultural and fisheries industries,” he said. “There was a plan for both industries and I’m going to do my best to look at these plans and provide them with more support.

“They both can be useful industries that our young people can get involved in. And at the end of the day, it’s good for Bermuda because they both provide food security and career opportunities.

“We also need to make sure that invasive species, both plant and animal, are managed effectively, and that includes domestic animals that have been let loose in the wild.”

Asked about the increase in the size of the Cabinet, Mr Simons said the question was one for the Premier.