Cabinet, Senate Appointments Expected Soon
Following the One Bermuda Alliance’s victory at the polls earlier this week, the Cabinet appointments are expected to be announced soon by the new Premier.
Prior to the election, the OBA Shadow Cabinet appointments were: Craig Cannonier – National Security, Bob Richards – Finance, Economy, Trade & Industry, Dr. Grant Gibbons – Education, Trevor Moniz – Attorney General & Justice, Shawn Crockwell – Business Development & Tourism, Pat Gordon-Pamplin – Transportation, Mark Pettingill – Public Works, Cole Simons – Government Estates & Information, and Michael Dunkley – Health.
All the other elected OBA MPs [Kenneth Bascome, Nandi Davis, Suzann Roberts-Holshouser, Sylvan Richards, Glen Smith, Jeanne Atherden, Susan Jackson, R Wayne Scott, Jeff Sousa, Leah Scott] are also eligible to be placed in Cabinet.
In forming their first Cabinet, MPs may be placed in different positions than they held in the Shadow Cabinet, newly elected MPs may be brought into Cabinet, and Premier Cannonier could end up completely rearranging the portfolios. When the PLP held the Government there were twelve Cabinet Ministers, and the OBA can maintain that number, or can increase or decrease it.
The OBA can also select a Cabinet Minister from the Senate, with present OBA Senator Michael Fahy having held the shadow portfolio of Environment, Planning & Housing.
New OBA Senators are also expected to be appointed; as the Opposition party they could appoint three Senators, and now as the ruling party they can appoint five. Of the three Senators they had as the Opposition, they lost one to the House with Michael Dunkley winning C#10, so at least three new OBA Senators will be appointed.
The PLP were able to appoint five Senators as the ruling party, which will now decrease to three. Two of the five PLP Senators [David Burt & Kim Wilson] won seats in the election, leaving Jonathan Smith, Diallo Rabain and Vince Ingham sitting as Opposition Senators.
Premier Cannonier has stated that he intends to keep a promise made during the campaign to invite a PLP MP to join Cabinet, and said the person has not been selected as of yet.
If this occurs, the PLP MPs to choose from are: Lovitta Foggo, Derrick Burgess, Wayne Furbert, Glenn Blakeney, Walter Roban, Michael Weeks, Walton Brown, David Burt, Rolfe Commissiong, Lawrence Scott, Marc Bean, Zane DeSilva, Randy Horton, Terry Lister, Kim Wilson, Dennis Lister and Michael Scott.
Right now the annual salary for Ministers is around $160,000 a year, however the OBA pledged to slash that by 10% during the election campaign.
Nandi can get ministry of dog walking?
As a fellow St. Georgian, I share your grief. Let’s ensure we come together during the elections for Corporation of St. George’s. We cannot let St. George’s remain unrepresented.
Pretty sure you have 3 representatives in the House.
What exactly has the former Government done for St. Georges in recent times?
Kim Swan and Lovita Foggo worked hard for St. George. Homeless Kenny did what, only shoot off his big mouth.
And you guys are thriving because of all that “hard work.”
And why didn’t you guys, who voted for Renee, vote for Mr. Swan instead, given his history in the constituency?
St. Georges has been marginalized for a very long time. The UBP were less than supportive, but nobody did more to bring St. Georges down than the PLP. This after St. Geo put PLP people into the house in election after election, especially when the times were tough for the PLP.
In return the PLP ignored and abused us.
Not enough juicy opportunities to make a percentage there I guess – not unless you plow through Higgs and Horseshoe islands for a wider channel and open up the whole town to get cleaned out by a hurricane, and even then most of the money would have gone to Government and not to the town.
Some representation.
@ another born St. Georgian
St. George’s has had no representation for the last fourteen years. Now they have Kenneth Bascome and Nandi Davis.
The Corporation of St. George is already broke so what you gonna do!
Wow, negative as usual, give the Lady a chance she just might surprise you, but I guess you wouldn’t say if she did would you?
@Fed Up
I guess you missed the Nandi Davis interview on the evening news when she said she would like to be a shadow minister.
The only surprises she will give are idiotic and uneducated comments like that.
What a shock people that do not appreciate someone admitting they might not be ready to take on a ministry. Ms. Davis I do not know you, nor have I seen anything of/about you other than your brief interview last evening. I for one applaud you for stating that you feel the need to watch and learn before tackling a ministry head on. I do not feel this is a sign of weakness or incompetence, but that of a person who rather than make an error would prefer to make sure they are completely ready to manage such a portfolio.
And the only reason some people are saying anything nice about Kim Swan (now) is because of his wife’s OBA bashing during her speech for the “independent” candidates.
@just a thought,
you clearly missed what she said and or have given her too much credit in trying to interpret what she did say.
So, when asked if she would like to hold a position in the Government, she replied “Aren’t I already in government” Everyone listening with any minute knowledge of the government (which she should at this point) clearing understood the reporter’s question which he had to rephrase “Would you be interested in a Cabinet position?”
She then replied that she would be interested as a junior minister (fine) or a SHADOW MINISTER!
Is becoming a shadow minister possible for her (unless she switches parties).
This was not a slip of the tongue, or meant to be shadowing a minister. This is common Nandi. Clueless and incompetent.
You are correct, she was clearly flustered. At least she can claim to be young and inexperienced in front of a camera… however when it comes to clueless and incompetent statements on air by PLP Ministers or BIU Presidents they could claim what? That it was a UBP/OBA/Non-PLP secret plan to make them look stupid?
That said, I hate to make excuses for someone and I’m as frustrated as you; party politics unfortunately means that we don’t get to vote for the individual, we have to vote for whomever carries the party banner. I don’t like it either, but it’s how it is under our current system. We have to trust the party to then put their best and brightest into cabinet. Now let’s see who we get.
@clear view, don`t start ,,your plp is full of idiotic EWB puppets !! Where you been the last 10 years !
The interviewer’s question was ill informed. He asked her if she would like to be in the Government, when in fact he should have been asking if she wanted to be in Cabinet. Just shows how little the reporter knows about how Government works. It wasn’t a slip, because I heard him ask the same question to Susan Jackson.
The fact that she is the youngest ever elected MP should be something to celebrate. I know that she is excited to go into the House as a MP and from there learn the ropes before any thoughts of serving as a Minister. She will also be focusing on representing the people that voted her in, making sure that they are represented effectively.
How is that butthurt working out for you?
Joke is on BDA
What does LAMO stand for?
Laughing Ass My Off?
Oopsies!!
Say it phonetically and you will get it.
A promise is a promise I guess….The only PLP elect worth consideration for Cabinet are Michael Weeks and Kim Wilson and even they are a stretch…
Has Wayne Fubert called in his request for the spot …… it must be time for him to cross the floor again. I remember him telling me in 2000 “I really miss my GP car” …..
Lol he switched sides just to get some attention and now he’s right back to where he started. OBA doesn’t need him. I say they invite Kim Wilson. I’m not sure if she would take it (seems like it would be politically stupid to do so) but at least Ms Wilson is more than competent.
I assume they’ll tell the chubby f$$$$$r to go @@@@ himself after all he did and said.
Make sure your Mother joins him @@@@ himself Sandgrowan.
What happens to Jennifer’s GP car? Remember the deal she struck with Paula?
A $16,000 decrease wow with all this money being saved we should be out of debt soon. (Sarcastic voice)
The serious slashes will come from the consultancy fees. Rolfe’s $160k to advise on race buh-bye. I can’t wait to hear the list of those. I’ve heard of Paula getting $18ok as consultant for world affairs, Bean hiring himself as a consultant to himself. We have all been in the dark but the light has come on and the roaches are running!
How much is Rene getting to hob nob around Washington as a consultant. No wonder she’s bitter this week, Paula dun lost the election and she’s out of a “job” and kicking stones.
I would seem that Rene’s type of politics (racist type, being on the top of the list), is not as acceptable as it was under the direction of Herr Brown.
At least it’s a start
You’ve got to start somewhere – every bit counts
16K per person , let’s assume average saving 16K per person x 36 people = 576K per year and over the 5 years that is over $2.8million.
Really…16k x 36! It’s obvious you need a civics lesson! All 36 MPs will not be ministers so they will not receive a paycheck of $160k. So it’s not $16k x 36. If you’re interested in being educated go onto the government website to learn what each mp and ministers will make and then come back with the savings.
Only Ministers get 160k, not the other 22 or so Members of Parliament. For Ministers, the Constitution states that there can be a max of 12 from the House and 2 from the Senate, or a min of 6 from the House and 1 from the Senate including the Premier. Please read the Bermuda Constitution Order before commenting.
We could get rid of that TV station.
That should save a few dollars.
this will be wonderful:
Craig Cannonier – Premier
Bob Richards – Business Development & Tourism,
Dr. Grant Gibbons – Finance, Economy, Trade & Industry,
Trevor Moniz – Attorney General & Justice,
Shawn Crockwell – Education,
Pat Gordon-Pamplin – Transportation,
Mark Pettingill – Public Works,
Cole Simons – Government Estates & Information,
Michael Dunkley – National Security
PLP: Zane : Health
Sorry but Zane Desilva should have no place in any Cabinet ever again! He’s made a mess of leading Future-care (its unsustainable financially) He’s arrogant,divisive and untrustworthy, just ask previous business associates/partners!
Kim Wilson or Michael Weeks may be credible considerations as far as I know they have retained their integrity despite their allegiance to a party which had none!
Its unfortunate that Dale Butler lost his seat and not one of the other PLP candidates as he would be best to be Minister of Education – his background is public education!
Guy needs to be investigated.
i agree, why wasn’t Dale ever made minister of education? that a giving , daaa!!! smh to bad Butler
Simples…OBA appoint Dale Butler as a Senator and Minister of Education
George,
Your comments re Zane DeSilva are spot on! In my opinion, he is one of the reasons the PLP lost the election.
Zane Desilva…no way….he was a major beneficiary of the Friends & Family financial packages over the years…
And for Environment?
And whomever the new Minister for the Environment turns out to be, here’s a tip from the voting public; turn in the keys to that Ministry’s GP car. Ride a bike like the rest of us Bermudians and save 90% on your fuel costs. Set the tone from the top. Please consider this a dare. I hope you’re up to it.
P.S. if you need a car for entertaining foreign dignitaries, try car pooling with another ministry which isn’t using theirs that day.
Zane will never keep health. The OBA healthplatform (still on their website) is very different from the path that Zane was trying to get his ministry and the BHB to go down.
Shawn Crockwell can educate the kids on now to sell drugs back on the streets.
And Rolfe can teach the kids how to committ armed robbery and hate on people that marry out of their race…
I want to see Jeff Barron as Minister for National Security! He has alot of experience
Slash MP salaries across the board, Ministers, MP, Senators all need to be cut by 50%. Roll back that rediculous PLP MP pension plan that ‘retiring’ MPs don’t need. Until this island’s economy and finances are straightened out, no-one deserves that level of renumeration.
Totally agreed on the pension. Ewart getting 200k a year or something around that number is ghastly and undeserved.
As for the pay slash I’d say 25%. I think half is too much.
yep
these are my guesses –
I would think it would be David Burt, but I have no idea of the portfolio. That is unless they hold him accountable for the $500 million rabbit he pulled from a hat during the campaign to discredit the OBA.
Then it could be Weeks.
Baron will be named to the Senate and given National Security.
I think Cannonier should stick to being Premier, and should keep everyone accountable and in line, and be in regular dialogue with the people.
Dunkley will stay Health.
Richards Finance Economy & Trade
It’s going to be interesting.
I am still looking forward to seeing what is “under the hood”.
Kim Wilson, Michael Scott or Michael Weeks – the rest put out to pasture and I agree that Mr. Cannonier should concentrate solely on being Premier which would enable him to oversee everyone and things.
Craig Cannonier – Premier
Bob Richards – Finance, Economy, Trade and Industry,
Dr. Grant Gibbons – Education
Shawn Crockwell – Youth and Sports,
Pat Gordon-Pamplin – Transportation,
Mark Pettingill – Public Works,
Cole Simons – Government Estates & Information,
Michael Dunkley – National Security
Susan Roberts Holshouser – Health
PLP: Michael Scott/Kim Wilson/Michael Weeks
I would include Terry Lister on that list as well…
DEFINITE NO TO LISTER
Wow, almost looks like, um dare I say it the UBP cabinet!
And still looks better than the most recent PLP cabinet…
Now that is hilarious…oh I know that they are all smarter and will be more productive than anyone you know on the PLP. Truth hurts…
….and Tourism? Kenny Bascome?
Kenny Bascome for Tourism-No! I don’t think he has the tools to represent us at that level. But neither did Wayne Furbert.
Bob Richards should be responsible for Finance and Tourism.
“Concerned” has the best proposal for the new cabinet. I concur
Whats under the hood?? An old PLP Transmission that is going to be costly to replace but will bring longevity and forward movement to that new OBA car for years to come!!!!!!!!!!!
We’ll see what’s under the hood. I’m not talking about the govt. workforce which is vastly bloated. I’m talking about facts and figures.
Bob Richards is probably prone in a chair gasping oxygen right now after getting just a peak at the books!
any word on the situation of the Accountant General – somebody has to get those month end cheques out.
All shredded by now…
David Burt? Are you kidding? Please do your homework!
Of the 17 PLP MPs, in my opinion only 2 qualify for a cabinet position – Terry Lister and Kim Wilson. Starting as a Minister Without Portfolio makes most sense and I would give Terry Lister the nod.
Why can’t Dale be brought in as Education Minister
The Colonel was an unelected official yet was made a Minister (and a bad one at that) under the Brown administration !!
Good question, very good question.
If Dale is appointed to the Senate he could get a portfolio.
Respectfully…. Mr. Butler had his chance when his party kicked him square in his A** moons ago. If Mr. Butler had left that train wreck of a party and started a new party back then, I feel that Mr. Butler very well could have woken up as the Premier of Bermuda on Tuesday December 18, 2012. Sadly, he has lost his chance and personally my respect. He stayed for party and could not bring himself to leave for country!!!
Agreed, he took a knock for that particular decision, but Dale Butler has considerable talent, and Bermuda needs whatever talent it has right now. We simply can’t discredit someone who is (hopefully) still willing to serve our Island on the grounds of one bad call, especially when that call was made out of good, but misguided, intentions.
Mr Butler still has my respect, he doesn’t cross the floor for personal gain, he is one of Bermuda’s few remaining Statesmen, unfortunately the rest of the House are mostly just politicians.
Good point about Dale. He could be Education Minister if he is appointed to the Senate. He will not be appointed by the OBA but the PLP appoint could him. The Governor could also appoint him as an Independant Senator provided he resigned from the PLP and the Governor accepted that he was genuinely non partisan as regard party affiliation (but this would be a stretch!).
Yes. When he stood up to the PLP he was stripped of his ministry and silenced yet he still stays.
Butler would have to be appointed to the Senate by OBA. Otherwise he would always vote OBA even as a PLP Senator.
We will see if this Cannonier experiment comes to fruition.
Actually, Dale resigned his Cabinet position immediately following the debate in the House over the Uighers. He stood up to Dr. Brown then and was not prepared to remain in his Cabinet. He showed a lot of integrity then. His loyalty to the PLP has been admirable but not easily justifiable/understandable if he really wishes the best for Bermuda.
There are a number of PLP MPs/senior figures that fall into this catagory – Wayne Perinchief, Terry Lister, Randy Horton, Jonathan Smith. Why these guys hang in with the PLP I will never know. They must have been profoundly embarrassed with how their party conducted the recent campaign.
Here is another thought – Wayne Perichief for the Senate and a place in the Cabinet (as Minister of National Security).
But hang on….did the Premier actually say he will appoint a PLP MP to the Cabinet or did he say It was something he would consider?
It will be difficult for a PLP MP to accept a cabinet position as that would co-opt him or her to the OBA. We will have to wait and see if a PLP MP accepts the position.
He will certainly only choose an MP from the PLP (one of the 17) as that would de-facto increase the strength of OBA in the Assembly. There is no political gain in choosing a non-MP, except to serve as a symbolic gesture.
This is an excellent tactical move by the Premier.
I didnt even think about refusal. I guess that is a possibility.
OBA Cabinet
Craig Cannonier – Premier
Bob Richards – Finance & Business Development
Dr. Grant Gibbons – Education
Glenn Smith – Economy, Trade & Industry,
Trevor Moniz – House Speaker
Mark Pettingill – Attorney General & Justice
Shawn Crockwell – Tourism
Pat Gordon-Pamplin – Transportation
Cole Simons – Government Estates & Information & Public Works
Michael Dunkley – National Security
PLP: Kim Wilson – Youth, Sports & Family
I disagree.
1. You forgot health
2. Make Kim Wilson House Speaker
My making a member of the PLP a house speaker it further widens the gap between the PLP and OBA when it comes time to vote as the Speaker of the House cannot vote unless there is a tie. So if the OBA assign the PLP this position then it becomes a 19:16 shift rather than a 18:17 shift (as if the PLP isn’t the speaker than the OBA has to be one).
It would seem that it would be easy to come up with a concensus candidate to fill a Cabinet spot from the PLP, but there doesn’t seem to be one. What does that say? Is it lack of a candidate or are people reticent to trust MP’s who stood behind the PLP Government? Or am I missing sometheing? Just asking.
I do believe it was stated it would be offered. There certainly is no guarantee that they would accept. Biting one’s nose off to spite its face runs high on that side!
Remember to be in the Cabinet, you have to be either an MP or in The Senate. So Dale would have to be selected by the PLP leader or put in as an independent by the Governor. He won’t cross over and join the OBA.
A professional wil be going in tourism
The formation of the tourism authority like Brannon has always crowed about is something to try. Privatise alot of it.
I would start in the privatising of schools as well.
Donte Hunt was shadow minister for 4 years under the Youth and Sports Ministry. He should be made a Senator and given that ministry. He deserves it and his resume proves it.
Donte is a dumb dumb and Crockwell, I have a serious problem with any man who sells heroin to people for his own greed. Please place Jeff as a Senator. He has the respect of the public.
can we lobby for Michael Dunkley – National Security Minister?
I keep checking and nothing yet on the appointments… I guess I will just keep waiting.
I would put Premier Cannonier solely by himself , to walk the streets and get a feel of the people , and keep the party in tow.
I would put Mr. Richards in a new portfolio, that of going through the finances, seeing who stole what, when they stole it, how much each one stole, and to prosecute everyone involved to the fullest extent of the law. This task will take a very long time, but must be done if we ever want to be viewed to the world as a safe jurisdiction again. Like it or not, some will have to rot in jail.
Glen Smith as finance minister, a brilliant man.
Speaking of independents in the senate………..Kim Swan captured more votes than any independent since the house was all independents (40 odd years)
Its taking a rather long time. On monday night Toni Daniels said this would happen on Wednesday. It is looking unlikely now. Perhaps Michael Dunkley is telling Craig what appointments need to be made! Or perhaps Craig is trying to do that balancing act between giving half the cabinet to UBP MPs and half to OBA MPs. Or maybe he is having challenges selling a Cabinet spot to the PLP MP. Come on Craig – don’t fail us now! U have to please everyone now!!
Can we start a new tradition, and take down pictures of our elected officials from our public buildings? I don’t want to see Cannonier, or Cox, or anyone else peering down on me while i buy stamps or get frisked at customs.
It smacks of Soviet era Eastern Europe.
At least Premier Cannonier is easier on the eyes than the disgraced, former premier.
He does have a statesman look about him. Cox looked like, um, well, oh never mind. Brown looked like he belonged out in a used car sales lot waiting for suckers, I mean, customers to come in. Scott has a frumpy schoolteacher look about him. Smith, well, ummmm, no I’d rather not say.
At first I thought, that’s insane, wouldn’t an invited opponent be like having a spy in the room?!
But then I thought maybe it’s a good idea, to keep proceedings transparent and in the sunshine of public scrutiny and they wouldn’t have to lie or deceive anybody and there might not be another cog in the wheel and no need to be unethical but not illegal……..
Failing all that, it would be a good opportunity and training experience for the invited opponent to witness good governance in action at last, maybe……
Chris Furburt for education minister. “See kids, if you don’t stay in school, get a good education, you’ll be like me!”
Well Nandi Davis said she would like to be a Junior Minister or even a Shadow Minister! (I couldn’t make that up no matter how hard I tried)Would someone please tell Barbie that she is a Member of Parliament on the ‘winning’ team.
Lesson One, Nandi: Junior Ministers come out of the Senate appointed by YOUR government whilst Shadow Ministers are members of parliament from the Opposition team (the one without the surrogates).
Lesson Two: Learn your role, don’t be another Sarah Palin boo!
Lesson Three: Don’t forget lesson two!
Can someone say blonde)
Is she serious!!!!!!
Had they won yet when they she made that statement? No. So she was right. Either opportunity was still open. You are grasping at hater straws.
Craig knows how to do that or will someone show him? Come on who believes this really, don’t you need experience to do this job? Best of luck. Maybe he can talk and no one will notice kind of like the victory rally.
When are they selling the GP cars, getting rid of all those trappings.
Dame Jennifer has her car back! Maybe she should have it sprayed red!
We should expect an announcement in due course. I know it is something the new Premier is very aware of and wants to sell a lot of them off.
Well you don’t want to flood the market, so I guess you would sell them in batches.
the rumor that Marc Bean would be considered for the cabinet position in the new Government? cannot be serious…….
Said rumor is also that he turned it down.
Laverne has stated she would organise the effort to oust anyone who worked with the OBA as it helped them stay in power.
Then she said power power power power power plp.
She said nothing at all about bettering Bermuda for Bermudians. Funny if it wasnt so sad.
Lavernes message is let’s not work together.
@ Bullseye
Nandi Davis, JP, ‘MP,’ made the above statement at GOVERNMENT HOUSE in an interview with Tari Trott after Premier Legay C. Cannonier, JP, MP was sworn in. I’m no hater, I’m merely stating the facts and it’s a FACT that she is in well over her head and before long the ghetto side of Nandi will show its face. (Hater, no, I think shes a cutie pie!)
Thank you for the clarification. I jumped the gun on you. I’m tired of OBA women being ripped apart.
I will agree with you that Nandi is no seasoned politician. She has been through a tough campaign which I am sure was emotionally challenging and has left its scars and she won. Talk about a hail mary. She deserves her post and she will learn and get better.
Clearly the people in St. Georges think alot of her and of the team she is on. She has alot to prove and frankly needs to set goals defined by the needs of her constituents and fight for them and them only. Then maybe one day she can handle bigger things.