The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

PROMINENT religious leader Bishop Simeon Hall said it is evident that “two or three” Cabinet ministers are “out of their league” and should be reassigned or replaced, as he called on Prime Minister Perry Christie to shuffle his Cabinet to better address the concerns of Bahamians.

When contacted for further comment, Bishop Hall would not specify which ministers he meant, telling The Tribune: “Church leaders are called to raise the truth but it’s up to Bahamians to go further and say what you want.”

He said in his statement: “It is becoming more and more difficult to remain a conscientious and concerned citizen of our Bahamas, notwithstanding one’s political persuasion, and not feel that we are nearing the edge of a national social crisis.

“Optimism is fading and those unemployed will face this holiday season despairing and hopeless. I am not one to join the chorus of persons who place all the blame solely on the government – current or previous. Indeed in the face of several crises that this government has dealt with, it has steadied the Bahamian ship so that the majority of Bahamians are still doing relatively well economically.

“However, as an ordinary citizen my desire is that we do better in areas critical to our national development and the government must take the lead in these efforts. I am therefore calling on Perry Christie to consider a Cabinet shuffle so as to allow some of his ministers to do better and achieve more in areas in which they are more suited. It is evident, especially of late, that two or three ministers especially are out of their league with their respective portfolios and should be reassigned or replaced.”

Mr Christie has given no indication that he is planning to shuffle his Cabinet. During his first stint as prime minister between 2002 and 2007, he declined calls to do so, saying at the time that it would disrupt major projects underway in Cabinet at the time.

Meanwhile, Bishop Hall, pastor emeritus of New Covenant Baptist Church, also told The Tribune that Cabinet does not need to be comprised of elected officials, but could perhaps use people with a better understanding of their respective fields.

“I think government needs to appreciate the growing chorus of persons who feel they are not reaching them,” Bishop Hall added. “You talk to people in the church, in the community who are nearly ready to give up. Move people around. Some may be better in some areas than they are in other areas. I appreciate the fact that the economy worldwide is bad but there needs to be more creativity from the government.”