NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Minister of Transport and Local Government, the Hon. Renward Wells will serve as Acting Prime Minister of The Bahamas while Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis is out of the country.
The prime minister is expected to depart the capital today [Thursday, March 21, 2019] to take part in a multilateral meeting between Caribbean Heads of State and Government and US President Donald J Trump on Friday, March 22, 2019.
A statement released from the Office of the Prime Minister outlined that he will be accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Darren Henfield, The Bahamas’ Ambassador to the US His Excellency Sidney Collie and other senior government officials.
Minister of Health Dr. Duane Sands told the media on Wednesday that Minister Wells is next in line to serve as the acting prime minister as those ministers who are senior to him will also be out of the country.
Sands explained that when the prime minister is out of the country, the order of leadership is: Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest; Minister of Immigration and Financial Services Brent Symonette; Attorney General Carl Bethel; Minister of Works Desmond Bannister and then Minister Wells.
Sands said Attorney General Carl Bethel cannot serve as acting prime minister and attorney general at the same time.
Sands also explained that the numbers displayed on the license plates of cars driven by Cabinet Ministers also represent the order of leadership.
