Before family and friends at Government House last Friday, the country’s new Deputy Prime Minister K. Peter Turnquest and Attorney General Carl Bethel were sworn in. 

Mr. Turnquest, who was also sworn in as minister of finance, is a chartered public accountant and officially took the oath of office for this position, which has been traditionally held by prime ministers. 

Mr. Bethel was also sworn in as the minister of legal affairs.

Both men have extensive experience in their respective positions and were chosen by Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis to foster a new way of running the government.

“Transparency and accountability in public finances were often absent by the former government in the past five years,” Dr. Minnis said. 

“In the administration of public finances my government will adhere to the constitution and to the 2010 Financial Administration and Audit Act. We will adhere to other relevant laws and best practices of financial administration.” 

Prime Minister Minnis assured the public that his government would ensure that the Public Treasury is used for public good rather than directed toward private interest. 

He pointed out that Mr. Bethel comes with a wealth of experience in the legal field, having been an attorney for three decades and having served as an attorney general in the Ingraham administration. 

In congratulating the appointees, the prime minister gave these words of advice.

“Fidelity to the oath you swore today is essential in order to provide the Bahamian people with a government of integrity,” Dr. Minnis said. 

“But an open government demands transparency and accountability. Good governance demands being responsible for our actions. Accordingly, I will hold my ministers to the highest standards of ethical conduct in the performance of their public duties.”

It is expected that many more cabinet appointments will be made today.

Aside from his cabinet post, Minister Carl Bethel will also make a return to the Upper Chamber as the leader of government business.

It is a position he held before resigning last December.