Bahamas PM Names New Ministers in Minor Cabinet Reshuffle

NASSAU, Bahamas – The Bahamas government has announced a minor cabinet re-shuffle, appointing Renward Ricardo Wells as the new Minister of Health, replacing Dr. Duane Sands, who resigned two months ago.

In addition, the Governor General has appointed Senator Dion Alexander Foulkes to the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Transport and Local Government.

In addition, Travis Robinson, has been re-appointed to the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation as parliamentary secretary. Robinson served in the position before being fired by the prime minister in June 2018, after voting against the government’s bill to increase value-added tax (VAT) from 7.5 per cent to 12 per cent.

The new appointments become effective as of Monday, July 20.

“Renward Wells is a doer, who knows how to get things done. During my recent tenure as minister of health, I consolidated and brought forward a healthcare infrastructure program to upgrade the country’s health infrastructure, which I detailed during the recent debate on the 2020/2021 national budget,” Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis said in a national broadcast on Sunday.t.

He said this includes upgrades to the Princess Margaret Hospital, clinics throughout the country and planning for a new Rand Memorial Hospital.

“While the medical officials continue to lead the charge in the battle against COVID-19, I have instructed Minister Wells to move aggressively to upgrade our healthcare infrastructure,” Minnis said, noting that Wells, who served as minister of transport and local government, will be charged with working with public health officials on boosting immunizations and vaccinations for various childhood diseases “some of which have lagged during the COVID-19 pandemic”.

Minnis said that Foulkes has extensive Cabinet experience and “he has provided me with wise counsel on many matters.”

Minnis last reshuffled his Cabinet in July 2018.

CMC