Newly elected President of the People’s National Party (PNP), Mark Golding has recommended former Central Manchester Member of Parliament (MP), Peter Bunting, to be appointed to the Jamaican Senate.
Bunting, who is a longtime friend and business partner of Golding, was recommended to Governor-General, Sir Patrick Allen.
The former minister of national security is to complete the slate of eight Opposition senators and is also expected to assume the role of Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate. The position is currently held by attorney-at-law, Donna Scott-Mottley.
The appointment comes as no surprise to many Jamaicans who assumed that the vacant seat in the Upper House would have been filled by Bunting once Golding became president of the party.
The vacancy existed after businessman Norman Horne had declined an invitation by then outgoing President and Opposition Leader, Dr Peter Phillips, to be appointed to the Senate in September. Phillips had already indicated his intention to resign as president of the party and said he would give the new president a free hand to make his own pick.
Golding also named a nineteen member shadow cabinet yesterday.
Among the appointees and notable shifts are PNP General Secretary Julian Robinson, who is now the Opposition Spokesman on Finance. Golding, the former opposition minister of finance, has moved himself to the ministry of Defence.
PNP Vice President, Damion Crawford, is Opposition Spokesman on Culture & Entertainment. Senator Janice Allen is the new Opposition Spokesman on Tourism. Senator Gabriela Morris, who is the youngest person to be named a senator in Jamaica, has been appointed to serve as Opposition Spokesman on Youth & Sports.
See the full list below:
