David Burt, the Premier, announced that Ryan Robinson Perinchief and the Reverend Emily Gail Dill will join the Cabinet at a swearing-in ceremony at Government House.

He also confirmed the reappointment of Diallo Rabain as education minister.

Mr Burt made the announcements in the wake of the resignation of Crystal Caesar as Minister of Education and a government senator.

It was also confirmed that Michael Weeks, who was the Minister of National Security, and Wayne Furbert, who had served as the Junior Minister of Finance, are no longer in the Cabinet.

The Premier told the ceremony: “Education remains one of the most important commitments this Government has made and the work ahead includes advancing the long-promised Education Authority legislation, which has been the subject of thousands of hours of consultation over many years with a wide array of stakeholders.

“This Government has promised that we will deliver school boards, promised greater parental and community involvement and promised to decentralise authority from the Ministry of Education so our schools are better supported and more responsive.”

Mr Robinson Perinchief will take Ms Caesar’s seat in the Upper House and was sworn in as the Minister of National Security.

Mr Burt said: “Public safety requires urgency, discipline and confidence.

“I expect the new minister to work closely with the police, customs, Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service, the Royal Bermuda Regiment and other agencies to support safer roads, safer communities and thereby building public confidence.

“Additionally, the Government has long promised cannabis reform, and Mr Perinchief’s experience and background give me confidence that this will be achieved during this legislative session.”

Mr Burt went on to confirm that Dr Dill will join the Cabinet as the Minister of the Cabinet Office while Alexa Lightbourne, the Minister of Home Affairs, will add digital transformation to her portfolio.

Mr Burt thanked Ms Caesar, Mr Weeks and Mr Furbert for their contributions.

In a candid statement published on social media yesterday, Ms Caesar cited among her reasons for resignation a lack of support from within the Cabinet to make meaningful decisions — “particularly” from Mr Burt.

The Premier responded that while she was entitled to her views, he considered Ms Caesar’s comments on her former Cabinet colleagues “surprising and unfortunate”.

After the swearing-in, Mr Burt said: “Good governance requires listening to advice. It also requires decisions.

“We serve in a Cabinet system of Government. Ministers bring advice, questions and concerns to the table, but once Cabinet settles the Government position, the Government must move forward.

“Fulfilling a Throne Speech commitment is not political expediency. It is delivering on a commitment made by an elected Government to the people of Bermuda.

“The public expects us to finish the promise, and that is what these changes are about.”

Mr Burt said he had not been “caught off guard”, stating that he felt it was the right time to make changes.

He said: “I’m not going to comment on the back and forth, but there is no surprise here.

“I have been very clear that we have things we need to deliver and in my judgment, which is the judgment given to me under the Constitution of this country, I made the changes and advised the Governor in the best interests of advancing the Government’s agenda.”

Asked why he made the changes only a few months before a new leader takes over the Progressive Labour Party, Mr Burt said: “The people of this country expect us to be working at all points in time.

“If I make the judgment that we need a change to ensure that we can have delivery on the promises which we gave, whether that is four months or four years, the people of this country expect work delivering all the time.”