Bahamas PM Minnis announces new cabinet

The new Bahamas cabinet took the oath of office yesterday, as the prime minister announced he would not be holding a specific portfolio.

The 16-member cabinet is made up of 15 men and one women.

Prime Minister Hubert Minnis, who was elected last week in a landslide victory, welcomed his new colleagues in a ceremony at Government House in Nassau.

And Free National Movement leader Minnis said his focus would be solely on his premiership duties.

“I made this decision in order to perform my primary constitutional duty as prime minister,” he said.

“This primary constitutional duty is the coordination and oversight of the cabinet of The Bahamas. As I have repeatedly noted, my government will be one of collegiality, collective responsibility and collaboration.

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Who’s in the cabinet?

Duane Sands, minister of health Marvin Dames, minister of national security Dionsio D’Aguilar, minister of tourism and aviation (with responsibility for Bahamasair) Jeffrey Lloyd, minister of education, science and technology Frankie Campbell, minister of transport and local government Darren Henfield, minister of foreign affairs Romauld Ferrier, minister of the environment and housing Michael Pintard, minister of youth, sports and culture Dion Foulkes, minister of labour Brent Symonette, minister of financial services, trade and industry and immigration Renward Wells, minister of agriculture and marine resources Lanisha Rolle, minister of social services Desmond Bannister, minister of works Brensil Rolle, minister of state for public service and National Insurance in the Office of the Prime Minister Elsworth Johnson, minister of state in the Ministry of Legal Affairs in the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs Kwasi Thompson, minister of state for Grand Bahama in the Office of the Prime Minister

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The group joins Carl Bethel, who was sworn in on Friday as attorney general, and minister of legal affairs and Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest, who was sworn in as minister of finance.

The cabinet will be held to the highest standard of ethical conduct in the performance of its duties, said Minnis, who pledged to fire those who engage in wrongdoing.

“I want to send a message to my ministers, that should you engage in unsavoury or [make] unethical requests to the permanent secretary and I discover or find this out, you will immediately be fired,”

“And I say to the permanent secretaries, should you not report such behavior and allow it to fester, you, too, shall be fired. It’s now the people’s time.”

Desmond Bannister, who was unable to attend the swearing-in ceremony, is expected to be sworn in as the minister of works.

The first cabinet meeting will be held today (16 May).