By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

HOPE Strachan and Arnold Forbes were officially sworn in as minister of financial services and minister of state in the Ministry of Works and Urban Development, respectively, at Government House yesterday.

Prime Minister Perry Christie said the promotions signified his confidence in new leadership.

Ms Strachan, the MP for Sea Breeze, previously served as minister of state for transport and aviation. She replaces Elizabeth MP Ryan Pinder who resigned in December to take up a position at an offshore bank. Mr Forbes is the MP for Mount Moriah and was previously chairman of the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC).

They both expressed gratitude to family members, colleagues and constituents.

In his first address as a Cabinet minister, Mr Forbes thanked the prime minister for believing in him to serve in the Ministry of Works.

He added that he was eager to contribute to the Ministry of Works under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis who is also minister of works.

Ms Strachan said she was honoured to take on the Ministry on Financial Services.

She told those gathered that moving forward she was determined to disregard the opinions of naysayers.

A week ago, the Cabinet office released a statement announcing the new ministerial appointments.

The statement also said that Nassau Village MP Dion Smith was appointed as the new chairman of the BAIC to replace Mr Forbes.

The appointments took effect on January 12 and marked the first time Mr Christie shuffled his Cabinet since assuming office in May 2012.

At the time, Ms Strachan said her legal background will help her in leading the financial ministry.

“Looking forward, we have quite a number of major issues on the drawing board as it relates to FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act), the WTO (World Trade Organisation) accession – those are the major issues we will be looking into. Also how to increase our market share and actually bring in new products for new areas,” she said shortly after she was appointed.