The Tribune

MANY of the Cabinet ministers sworn in yesterday afternoon at Government House boast considerable political experience.

Dr Bernard Nottage, the nation's new National Security Minister and government leader in the House of Assembly, was named a Senator in 2005, National Insurance and Health Minister in 2006, and leader of opposition business in 2007. Before that, he was appointed Education Minister in 1990.

West Grand Bahama and Bimini MP Obie Wilchcombe, the new Tourism Minister, served in the same capacity from 2002 to 2007, and was also responsible for the Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas and Bahamas Information Services.

Before that, he was appointed a senator in 1994 and PLP chairman in 1995.

Marathon MP Jerome Fitzgerald, the new Minister of Education, Science and Technology, has been a senator since 2007 and Elizabeth MP Mr Pinder, the new Minister of Financial Services, was elected vice-chairman of the PLP in 2009.

He also served as a Public Accounts Committee member and co-chairman on the PLP's Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Committee after winning his constituency's by-election in 2010.

Allyson Maynard-Gibson, the new Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, has served in the Senate as leader of opposition business for the last five years.

Before that, she represented the Pinewood Constituency in the House of Assembly and served as Minister of Financial Services and Attorney General.

Central and South Eleuthera MP Damian Gomez, Minister of State in the Ministry of Legal Affairs, actually began his political career in the Free National Movement, serving as Assistant Secretary General of that party in 1991 and president of the FNM Torchbearers Association in 1990.

He joined the PLP in 2001 and served as Shadow Attorney General from 1997 to 2002.

Golden Isles MP Michael Halkitis is the new Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance.

He was elected to represent the now defunct Adelaide constituency in 2002 and became a senator in 2007.

Senator Keith Bell was named the Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security. He is the former chief superintendent of police.