Senate picks revealed

Four unsuccessful Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) general election candidates will be among the 16 new senators.

Tyrel O. Young (who was the candidate for Long Island); James A. Rolle-Turner, who was the candidate for East Grand Bahama; Kirkland A. Russell, who was the candidate for Central Grand Bahama; and Ronald Duncombe, who was the candidate for Killarney, will all serve in the Senate, according to an October 1 memo from Secretary to the Cabinet Nicole Campbell to Secretary to the Governor General Jack Thompson.

The PLP’s defeated candidate in St. Barnabas, Michael Halkitis, who was recently sworn in as minister of economic affairs; and Ryan Pinder, the new attorney general and minister of legal affairs, were previously named to the Senate.

The other senators being appointed in accordance with Article 39(2) of the constitution are attorney Lashell Adderley, Progressive Young Liberals Chairman Barry Griffin, and PLP National Vice Chairman Quinton Lightbourn.

They are being appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister.

The memo to Thompson also revealed that former Bahamas Consul General to Atlanta Randy Rolle, attorney Darren Pickstock, and professor Dr. Erecia Hepburn are being appointed in accordance with Article 39(4) — which requires the prime minister to consult the leader of the opposition before finalizing the selections.

Many have also been waiting with keen interest to learn the four opposition senators, given that there is an expectation that former Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis’ time as leader of the official opposition will be short lived.

The Nassau Guardian understands that former Minister of Foreign Affairs Darren Henfield and former High Commissioner to CARICOM Reuben Rahming — who served as Free National Movement (FNM) MPs from 2017 to 2021 — are being appointed to the Senate.

Henfield and Rahming were unsuccessful in their re-election bids in the September 16 election.

Maxine Seymour, a communications specialist, who ran unsuccessfully as a candidate for the FNM in Seabreeze, is also being named to the Senate, according to party sources with intimate knowledge of the decision.

The fourth opposition FNM senator will be Viana Gardiner, who served as the chief operating officer for the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit under the Minnis administration, The Guardian understands.

The senators are expected to receive their instruments of appointment from the governor general today.

They will be sworn in during the Opening of Parliament, which will take place at Baha Mar on Wednesday, away from the traditional Parliament Square venue.

Organizers have told The Nassau Guardian that the venue was chosen because there is rain in the forecast on the day of the event, and because Baha Mar will allow for social distancing, so all parliamentarians and guests can be safely and comfortably accommodated.

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source https://thenassauguardian.com/senate-picks-revealed/