EDITOR, The Tribune
I couldn’t help but notice an interesting announcement that Transport and Local Government Minister Renward Wells will be serving as acting prime minister while Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis is away at an important meeting with US President Donald Trump in Florida. I understand that the post of deputy prime minister is not a creature of the Bahamian constitution.
However, one would think that Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest would’ve been next in line to man the fort in the event Minnis is outside of the jurisdiction, especially since Turnquest is higher on the totem pole than Wells in the Cabinet. When former Prime Minister Perry Christie was out of the jurisdiction, Philip Brave Davis acted as prime minister. When Frank Watson served as deputy prime minister to Hubert Ingraham, he would fill in for the latter when he was out of the country. I was always under the impression that the ministerial portfolios of finance, national security, tourism and health were the most important in any Cabinet, whether Free National Movement or Progressive Liberal Party. As finance minister, that portfolio alone ranks Turnquest ahead of Wells.
A cursory examination of the list of officials travelling with Minnis would show that the East Grand Bahama MP will not be attending the meeting. Maybe Turnquest will also be out of the country on another matter. I don’t know. Whatever the case may be, I just find it odd that a deputy prime minister would be leapfrogged over by a ministerial subordinate in a situation like this.
KEVIN EVANS
Freeport,
Grand Bahama
March 21, 2019.
Comments
sheeprunner12 5 years ago
Wells is Leader of Government Business in Parliament as well ....... how much does that account for??????
Well_mudda_take_sic 5 years ago
No right-minded PM would appoint Renward Wells to a cabinet post, let alone allow him to serve as Acting PM. Wells is just another shining example of the very poor judgement exercised by Papa Doc Minnis in making many important appointments.
sheeprunner12 5 years ago
Well Mudda ........... what percentage of the present Cabinet is WORTHY of their portfolios ......... Many of those so-called Ministries are not worthy of being Ministries, anyway .......... There's a reason why the 1967 PLP Cabinet had 10 members .......... We don't need more than 10 now. Just more loyalists and perks and bureaucracy (aka high cost of Government)
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