Cabinet of the Bahamas
The Cabinet constitutes the executive branch and has general direction and control of the Government of The Bahamas. It is necessary for the Cabinet to comprise at least nine Ministers inclusive of the Prime Minister and Attorney General. All Ministers are Members of Parliament of either the House of Assembly or the Senate. The number of Ministers from the Senate is limited to three. In addition the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance are required to be members of the House of Assembly. The functions of the Cabinet entail the final determination of government policy, control of government activities and coordination of government Ministries and Departments. The Cabinet meets at least once per week to consider various issues.[1]
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Cabinet Office
The Cabinet Office falls under the portfolio of the Prime Minister, and functions as the secretariat to the Cabinet. The Secretary to the Cabinet is responsible for interministerial coordination among the Cabinet and managing government and parliamentary proceedings. Other key responsibilities include administering the Office of the Prime Minister, the Government Printing Department, the National Emergency Management Agency, and the Department of Lands and Surveys as well as advising the Prime Minister on policy. The Secretary of the Cabinet as of April 23, 2020 is Camille F. Johnson.
Cabinet Ministries
As of July 2, 2019 the Cabinet of Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis consists of the following members:[2]
Agency | Current Minister | Date of appointment |
---|---|---|
Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources | Hon. Michael Pintard | July 4, 2018 |
Minister of Education | Hon. Jeffrey Lloyd | May 15, 2017 |
Ministry of the Environment and Housing | Hon. Romauld Ferreira | May 15, 2017 |
Ministry of Finance | Hon. K. Peter Turnquest | May 15, 2017 |
Ministry of Financial Services, Trade and Industry and Immigration | Hon. Ellsworth Johnson | July 2, 2019 |
Minister of Foreign Affairs | Hon. Darren Henfield | May 15, 2017 |
Ministry of Health | Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis | May 4, 2020 |
Ministry of National Security | Hon. Marvin Dames | May 15, 2017 |
Minister of Labour | Sen. Hon. Dion Foulkes | May 15, 2017 |
Ministry of Legal Affairs and the Attorney General | Sen. Hon. Carl W. Bethel, QC | May 15, 2017 |
Ministry of Public Service and National Insurance | Hon. Brensil Rolle | May 15,2017 |
Ministry of Public Works | Hon. Desmond Bannister | May 22, 2017 |
Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development | Hon. Frankie Campbell | July 4, 2018 |
Ministry of Tourism and Aviation | Hon. Dionisio D'Aguilar | May 15, 2017 |
Ministry of Transport and Local Government | Hon. Renward Wells | July 4, 2018 |
Ministry of Youth Sports and Culture | Hon. Lanisha Rolle | July 4, 2018 |
Ministers of State
Cabinet Ministers may delegate certain daily operations of a department under their control to a Minister of State. The Cabinet Minister maintains sole accountability to Parliament for the faithful exercise of Department powers by a Minister of State. The Prime Minister may choose to assign a courtesy title that appropriately describes the duties assigned to a Minister of State. Such a courtesy title is distinct from the title of a Cabinet Minister, which is delegated by law through an Act of Parliament.
Currently designated Ministers of State
- Minister of State for Grand Bahama in the Office of the Prime Minister, Sen. Hon. James Kwasi Malik Thompson
- Minister of State for Disaster Preparedness, Recovery and Reconstruction in the Office of the Prime Minister, Hon. Iram Dewitt Lewis
References
- "The Cabinet". Government of the Bahamas.
- "Cabinet Ministers". Government of the Bahamas. Retrieved 20 May 2017.