NASSAU, Bahamas, July 2, 2019 — The Hon. Elsworth Johnson, former Minister of State for Legal Affairs in the Office of the Attorney General, was sworn in this morning as Minister of Financial Services, Trade and Industry and Immigration by His Excellency Governor General C.A. Smith at Government House.
The need for the appointment of a new Minister for those portfolios followed the sudden resignation on Monday of Brent Symonette, who became engulfed in the controversial whirlwind surrounding alleged conflict of interest involving companies in which he has an interest receiving lucrative government contracts.
Rumors rapidly circulated in the aftermath of his resignation that he may have resigned because of the escalating controversy over the awarding of a government contract to upgrade runways at Lynden Pindling International Airport to Bahamas Hot Mix, a company owned by Mr. Symonette’s family.
There was even speculation that he may have clashed with Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis, but Mr. Symonette flatly denied that rumor in an interview with the Nassau Guardian.
“Dr. [Hubert] Minnis, the prime minister, and I have been talking about my future and the role of my ministry for quite some time. It started in earnest in November of last year and at that time I advised him and I advised my Cabinet colleagues numerous times that you wouldn’t find me in Cabinet a day past my 65th birthday. I’m 65 on December 2 coming, so I’m on the downward half of the year,” Mr. Symonette was quoted as saying, in an article published on Tuesday.
He added, “I believe that younger people should take over. I always have believed that, so for me December 2 or the end of the year was an absolute, maximum outside. The prime minister and I talked and we came to the conclusion that it would be better for the new minister to start with a full budget year as opposed to coming halfway through…Hence, July 1, the beginning of the budget year.”
The Cabinet statement confirming that Mr. Symonette had tendered his resignation and would be replaced by Elsworth Johnson also appeared to confirm that there was no residual animosity between the Prime Minister and Mr. Symonette over his resignation.
In thanking Mr. Symonette for his service over many years, the Prime Minister stated: “While he will no longer serve in Cabinet, his constituents in St Anne’s will continue to have an MP who cares about them. I wish Mr. Symonette all the best in his future endeavours.”
Dr Minnis also noted that he is confident that Mr. Johnson will serve the country well in his new capacity.
A former President of the Bahamas Bar Association, Mr. Johnson obtained his LLB in 2001 from the University of the West Indies. In 2003 he obtained his Legal Education Certificate from the Eugene Dupuch Law School and was called to The Bahamas Bar in that same year. Mr. Johnson also holds a Master’s Degree (LLM) in Corporate & Commercial Law.
