[2] He entered Cabinet-level politics on 29 May 1980, when he was appointed Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries in the ALP government of Vere Bird.
[3] He retained this position after the 1984 election,[4] and in 1986 led the construction of a new agricultural research laboratory, using equipment donated by China under a 1983 economic and technical cooperation pact.
[6] This followed controversy over Bird's construction of a new airport, which the opposition charged was "grossly inflated" in cost; retired Grenadian judge Sir Archibald Nedd was appointed to investigate the project and look for signs of wrongdoing.
[17] The ALP lost their majority in the 2004 general election, and the United Progressive Party (UPP) under Baldwin Spencer took 14 of the 17 seats in Parliament.
[21] In 2006, following a letter from three ALP Parliamentarians accusing him of "fuelling division within the party", Yearwood was removed as Leader of the Opposition and replaced by Steadroy Benjamin.