The cabinet office announced that prime minister Perry G. Christie, has advised the governor general to appoint the following persons as senators under article 39 (2) of the constitution –
Mr. Frank Smith
Mr. Gregory Burrows
Mr. Jerome Gomez
Mr. Julian Russell
Mr. Gary Sawyer
Mr. Alex Storr
Ms. Tanisha Tynes
These seven new senators complement the appointment last friday of senator Allyson Maynard Gibson and senator Keith Bell.
The cabinet office also indicated that the prime minister would be advising the governor-general to appoint three additional senators under article 39 (4) of the constitution following the required consultation with the leader of the opposition.
Regarding the appointment of the new senators, the prime minister remarked that they collectively represent the youngest group of government senators ever appointed in the history of the bahamas. This, he said, was yet another early demonstration of his determination to prepare the country for a new generation of leadership.
The prime minister added that it was a matter of personal regret that he could not also have appointed Mr. Clay Sweeting as a senator but that as Mr. Sweeting is still in his 20’s he is not constitutionally eligible to serve in the senate at this time. The prime minister indicated, however, that he would soon be appointing Mr. Sweeting to another important position so that he, too, could play a role in national governance.
The prime minister also advised that Mr. Renardo Curry has indicated a preference to forego a senatorial appointnment in order to put himself in a position of maximum readiness for the anticipated bye-election in the north abaco constituency.
