President appoints media critic into government

Guinea-Bissau's president Kumba Yala reshuffled his cabinet on Monday, naming a journalist who has been critical of his government as State Secretary for Tourism and the head of the national Red Cross as Education Minister, news agencies reported. Joao de Barros, the owner of the Correio de Bissau newspaper, has been imprisoned several times for being critical of Yala while his paper has often been forced to stay off the shelves. The Portuguese news agency Lusa quoted de Barros as saying he would "fight for a better and more prosperous Guinea for all". "I sincerely believe that being in government I will, along with my colleagues, change much of what is going wrong in our country," de Barros reportedly said. The latest government changes in the West African country plagued by socio-political unrest were announced as diplomats said legislative elections set for 6 July are likely to be postponed. Re-registration of voters has run late and resources have not yet been found for the polls, the diplomats said. The head of the national Red Cross, Antonio Cumba Dias, was named education minister to replacement of Filomena Lopes who is currently ill and receiving medical treatment in Portugal, Lusa said. Three new state secretaries were created - for tourism, agriculture and international cooperation, expanding the cabinet. Observers said it was an attempt to broaden the government. Monday's reshuffle was the latest in a series of changes since November 2002 when Iala dissolved parliament, appointed a new prime minister and announced that parliamentary elections would take place in early 2003. Originally slated for February 2003, the polls were postponed to 20 April. However financial constraints and out-dated voters' registers forced the government to postpone the polls again to 6 July.