Prime Minister Philip Davis’s Remarks at the Presentation of Appointment Instruments for Governnment Senators

Your Excellency the Governor General,
Deputy Prime Minister,
Cabinet Colleagues,
Members of Parliament-elect and Senators-designate,
Reverend, Honoured and Distinguished Guests,
Fellow Bahamians,

Good afternoon.

The Senate plays a critical role in our constitutional democracy. 

It is the reviewing chamber, one which is meant to subject legislation to slower, more reflective debate.

Important details may have been overlooked in the lower chamber, where the cut and thrust of many-sided representation can make it difficult to retain focus.

As a result, our parliament and our system of democracy is richer for the fact that we have both chambers.

A key characteristic of Senators deemed worthy of appointment, is that of wisdom.

Traditionally wisdom was thought to belong only to those of many long years of experience in different walks of life.

However the wisdom of our age, the wisdom of now, is manifestly more broadly distributed across the generations.

Younger people have much to teach and to contribute, most obviously in the rapidly-evolving worlds of technology and social media.

The widsom of the various trades and the professions practiced throughout our society also bring much-needed insights into the decision-making of our parliament.

And so today, I am proud beyond measure, to welcome these women and men as Senators to sit on the government benches.

I believe a few of them are already very well-known to members of the public.

Some of them are especially well-known to me, as they have been my employees at one time or another.

Having been tested in the court of public opinion, or even more rigourously, tested by me as to how well they’re doing their job, I say without hesitation, reservation or pause, all of them are among the best of Bahamians.

The Bahamian people have extremely high expectations of our administration.

Not sure if I’ve mentioned it recently, but last Tuesday, for the first time since 1997, our administration was voted in for an historic second term.

The mandate we received was overwhelming.

But with great confidence comes great responsibility.

We have committed to many promises.

They range across the short, medium and long-term future of our nation.

Some are straightforward in the sense that they are already underway.

Others are complex and dynamic, seeking to bring about transformational long-term change in our country.

My friends:

We need all hands on deck.

We also need the best hands on deck. 

At the beginning of our last term, some questioned the need to grow the number of appointments to the administration.

However it is because we took the approach that we did, that we were able to make the kind of progress that we did, which resulted in the vote of confidence the Bahamian people invested in us.

And now that the task ahead is even greater, we must bring to bear all the talents at hand, to help us to deliver on our commitments.

To the incoming Senators:

I wish you well.

Do all you can.

Learn all you can.

And give of yourself, all you can.

And do so with the humility and fortitude needed to produce the best for the Bahamian people.

Taken together, the Senators representing both the Government and the Opposition, are a collection of those who are entirely new to the legislature, and those who have served before.

I continue to give thanks and praise to God for having brought us to this moment 

I encourage you to seek His counsel in your decision-making.

During this term I pray that a greater degree of civility returns to the way proceedings in parliament are conducted.

And I pray that the members of the public engage fully but respectfully to those who are offering themselves for public service.

Disagree robustly, criticize heavily, but remember that we are all children of God.

Friends:

My thanks once again to the Bahamian people for their confidence and trust in us.

We have done a lot, but we have so much more to do.

In closing, please allow me take this moment to recognise our incoming Senators, with a roll call of distinction.

Ms. Lashell Adderley

Mr. Keenan Johnson 

Mr. Robyn Lyons 

Ms. JaAnn Major

Mr. Latrae Rahming 

Mr. Kevin Simmons

Mrs. D’Asante Small 

Mr. Clint Watson 

Mr. Keno Wong

May God Bless you and God continue to Bless The Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

END