The reshuffling of the government ministries has seen the Ministry for Youth, Sports and Employment Opportunities merging with the Ministry of Industrial Relations.

When Village News contacted Interim Minister for Youth, Sport and Employment Opportunities Lek Ram Vayeshnoi, he said that it was the prerogative of the Interim Prime Minister and declined to comment further on the reshuffle.

After the 2008 National Budget announcement on Friday, it was revealed that a lot of ministries were combined namely the Ministry of Finance & National Planning, Ministry of Defense, National Security and Immigration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Co-operation & Civil Aviation, the Ministry of Education, National Heritage, Culture and Arts, the Ministry for Housing, Women and Social Welfare, the Ministry of Industrial Relations, Employment, Youth, Sports, the Ministry of Primary Industries, the Ministry of Lands, Mineral Resources and Environment Resources, the Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Trade and Communication.

Two ministries have been downgraded to departments, these are the Department of Local Government and Urban Development and the
Department of Indigenous Affairs, Provincial Development and Multi-Ethnic Affairs.

The names of the four ministers who will be affected as a result of the reshuffling of cabinet will be announced this week.