Chervita Khadine Campbell was voted in as the new Chief Councillor for the City of Freeport District Council on Monday and Nevar Lionel Smith, a 27-year-old radio personality from Mix 102.1 FM is the new deputy chief councillor.

The nine-member Council was sworn into office, June 25, in the meeting room of the National Insurance Board office in Freeport, by City Administrator Alexander Williams. Ms. Campbell, a 36-year-old guidance counsellor from the Jack Hayward High School, contested the Marco City area and was the top vote-getter among the eight persons vying for the three Councillor positions, with 626 votes.

Finishing second was Kevin Ferguson with 433 votes and Mrs. Omes Lockhart-Lightbourne finished third with 395 votes.

In Central Grand Bahama Marco Carey and Mrs. Frazette Gibson secured the vast majority of votes among the six persons contesting and was also sworn in as Councillors on Wednesday.

In East Grand Bahama, Chavaz Campbell and Nevar Lionel Smith emerged the winners among the seven persons contesting. Also making it to the Council were Ms. Melvina Albury and Clifton Francis who out-polled two others in the Pineridge Constituency.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry for Grand Bahama Melvin Seymour, congratulated the new councillors, and also applauded the unsuccessful candidates noting they showed a keen desire of wanting to serve.

He told councillors: “You have taken oath today to serve in a very sacred office, an office of trust, and I wish to say to you that you should and truly take seriously the oath that you would have taken this morning.”

He called on councillors to communicate openly with each other and to work as a team, treating each other with respect and encouragement, and also reminding them that they were elected to do a job.

“You must show a desire to work hard. You must work hard with a passion and dedication. You should motivate and you should inspire, always giving hope to those who elected you, those in various communities around you,” he stated.