Fresh off the Progressive Liberal Party’s commanding landslide win in last week’s general election, the Bahamas’ new parliamentary framework began to take shape on Wednesday, with a slate of Senate appointments that drew widespread public attention, including several high-profile figures from media, sports and public relations. The PLP secured a dominant majority in the May 12 poll, taking 32 of the 41 available House of Assembly seats and leaving the incumbent Free National Movement with just 8 seats, forcing the opposition to launch a new rebuilding effort following its second consecutive electoral defeat.
The official swearing-in ceremony for government-aligned senators was held at Government House, where PLP Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis formally introduced his slate of appointees to the upper legislative chamber. Alongside returning former Senate President Lashelle Adderley, Davis’ picks included D’Asante Small, Deputy Director of Communications for the Public Hospitals Authority; former electoral candidates Robyn Lynes (Killarney) and Keno Wong (St Anne’s); PLP legal team representative Keenan Johnson; and sitting public sector leaders JaAnn Major and Kevin Simmons. Two appointees stood out for their particularly high public profiles: Clint Watson, General Manager of the state-owned ZNS broadcasting network, and Latrae Rahming, the PLP’s veteran communications director.
Speaking after the ceremony, Prime Minister Davis emphasized his confidence in the new cohort of senators, noting that many of the appointees had already proven their capabilities through both public service and personal scrutiny. “Each of these individuals has been tested, either by my own experience working alongside them or in the unforgiving court of public opinion,” Davis said. “I am proud to welcome them to the Senate as we begin the work Bahamians elected us to do.”
For Rahming, who previously led the PLP’s public relations response during the party’s last term in government, his move to the upper chamber carries a core mission: reigniting young people’s faith in the country’s democratic process and encouraging greater civic participation. Pointing to the lackluster voter turnout recorded in last week’s election, Rahming noted that many young Bahamians have grown disengaged from exercising their democratic rights, and he aims to change that narrative through his work in the Senate.
Watson, a former journalist, brings a policy priority focused on reforming the Bahamas’ media landscape and advancing long-delayed transparency legislation. Citing his decades of experience in the news industry, Watson highlighted that public demand for a national Freedom of Information Act remains strong, and he will push to codify that law to build a more open, progressive modern Bahamas.
On the opposition side, the Free National Movement also confirmed its own Senate appointees, led by one of the Bahamas’ most recognizable public figures: former NBA champion Rick Fox. Fox’s appointment comes as the FNM works to rebuild its public profile and regroup following its heavy electoral defeat, and the party also named three other senators: attorneys Elsworth Johnson and Arinthia Komolafe, and Dr Trevor Johnson.
Outgoing Opposition Leader Michael Pintard acknowledged that the FNM had hoped for a far better electoral result, but the party accepted the mandate given to it by Bahamian voters and will fulfill its role as the official opposition in Parliament. “The people have spoken, and we respect their decision,” Pintard said. “Our job now is to hold the government accountable while we work to rebuild our party and earn the trust of voters moving forward.”