NASSAU, The Bahamas – Prime Minister the Rt. Hon Hubert A Ingraham pledged to implement his Government’s “trust agenda” and lead the country to “responsible, honest and accountable governance,” as he introduced his new Cabinet.
He also commended to his Cabinet the seven principles of public life as presented in Manifesto ’07 – selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.
“You have been especially chosen,” the Prime Minister told his Cabinet after they took the Oath of Office administered by Governor General His Excellency Arthur D Hanna during ceremony at Government House on Monday, May 7.
“Of those who are chosen, much is expected, required and demanded,” he said. “I have every confidence that you will meet my full expectation.
“I look forward to working with each of you as together we pursue the building of a more progressive and productive Bahamas.”
Mr. Ingra ham, who was returned to office in the May 2, 2007 General Elections, said that ministers accept their mission “as part of the national effort to promote social justice and increase prosperity for all.
“If we are to become all that we might be,” said Mr. Ingraham, “we must aspire to transcend historic prejudices and break loose from the stereotypical bounds of the politics of race and class division that belongs to a bygone era.
“That is behind us and we must leave it so that we can achieve full unity in our land with a government dedicated to serving all Bahamians, black and white, middle class, rich and poor; young and old able and disabled.”
The Cabinet Ministers, including the Prime Minister, are:
o The Hon Brent Symonette, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs
o The Hon O A “Tommy” Turnquest, Minister of National Security
o The Hon Claire Hepburn, Attorney General
o The Hon Carl Bethel, Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture
o The Hon Kenneth Russell, Minister of Housing and National Insurance
o The Hon Earl Deveaux, Minister of Works and Transport
o The Hon Neko Grant, Minister of Tourism and Aviation
o The Hon Larry Cartwright, Minister of Agriculture & Marine Resources
o The Hon Sidney Collie, Minister of Lands and Local Government
o The Hon Dr. Hubert Minnis, Minister of Health and Social Development
o The Hon Dion Foulkes, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Labour
Also sworn in were three Ministers of State:
o The Hon Zhivargo Laing, Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance
o The Hon Desmond Bannister, Minister of State in
the Ministry of Legal Affairs
o The Hon Elma Campbell, Minister of State for Immigration in the Ministry of National Security.
“I seek in my Cabinet appointments to bring to the fore in the Bahamian Government the full range of talented men and women who make up the Free National Movement,” the Prime Minister said.
“I believe and am fully satisfied that I need not fear contradiction on this – I have assembled a powerful team. They promised to do much good for the future growth and development in our people and our nation,” the Prime Minister said.
