BAHAMAS-Christian council wants government to reconsider appointments of two ministers.

NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – The Bahamas Christian Council (BCC) is calling on Prime Minister Philip Davis to reconsider the appointments of Sebas Bastian and Leslia Miller-Brice to the Cabinet, given their connections to the gaming industry.

Bastian and Miller-Brice were sworn in as the Minister of Innovation and National Development and the Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage, respectively, last Saturday.

In a statement, the BCC said that the appointments will negatively impact The Bahamas’ reputation and standing with international anti-money laundering regulatory bodies, adding that Bahamians should not have to accept “legal gymnastics” created in an apparent attempt to “get one over on the law”.

The Gaming Act prevents Cabinet ministers or their family members from holding gaming licenses or from having a significant financial interest in the holder of such a license, and the BCC said these restrictions exist to guard against conflicts of interest between public duty and private financial benefit, as well as the possibility of undue influence on regulatory decision-making.

“We acknowledge that the ministers in question have indicated that they have satisfied the legal requirements necessary to serve in Cabinet. However, no public evidence has yet been produced that fully resolves the concern held by many citizens: whether these individuals have truly and completely relinquished any direct or indirect interest, influence, or continuing financial benefit from gaming enterprises with which they have been closely identified.”

The BCC said that Prime Minister Davis, who led his ruling Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) to victory in the May 12 general election, has repeatedly expressed his commitment to good governance.

In July last year, Prime Minister Davis said his government did not intend to amend the Gaming Act to allow Cabinet ministers to hold interests in gaming licenses.

“In light of that position, the present appointments have created a dark cloud that should not be dismissed lightly,” the BCCC said, noting “even if legal opinions have been obtained, and even if steps have been taken to satisfy the letter of the law, the broader and more important question remains: Has the spirit of the law been honored?

“The Bahamian people should not be asked to accept what appears to be legal gymnastics crafted to get one over on the law. When a statute is enacted to prevent a particular ethical danger, the government must not appear to be searching for pathways around the very concern the law was designed to address.”

The church officials said that without clear and compelling disclosure, it is hard for the public to believe that “all relevant interests and benefits” from the new ministers’ gaming connections “have been fully severed in substance and not merely rearranged in form”.

The statement said there are also broader international implications to consider, noting that The Bahamas will be subjected to a review in October from the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF).

The BCC said that the evaluation will examine the effectiveness of The Bahamas’ anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism financial framework.

“In that context, it is reasonable to ask whether sufficient consideration was given to how international evaluators, financial institutions, and stakeholders in the financial services sector may perceive these appointments.

“…The financial services industry is too important to the national economy for the government to ignore any action that may raise unnecessary questions about transparency, regulatory credibility, or the integrity of public decision-making. The Bahamas should be presenting its strongest possible face to the international community, not introducing avoidable concerns that require explanation.”

The BCC said that The Bahamas needs a Cabinet that is “not only legally constituted, but publicly trusted.

“We therefore respectfully urge the prime minister to reconsider these appointments. History often remembers leaders not only for the decisions they stand by, but also for the moments when they show the wisdom and courage to place the good of the country above the advancement of any individual. This is one of those moments.”

On Saturday, Bastian, Fort Charlotte MP-elect, and Miller-Brice, Seabreeze MP-elect, were sworn into Davis’ Cabinet. Bastian was appointed minister of innovation and national development, a newly created ministry, while Miller-Brice was appointed minister of culture, arts, and heritage.

News of the appointments immediately raised eyebrows, given that the Gaming Act prohibits Cabinet ministers from holding gaming licenses. Miller-Brice, who has represented Seabreeze since 2021, did not serve in the first Davis administration due to her ties to the gaming industry.

However, a statement released by a spokesperson over the weekend said Leander Brice, Miller-Brice’s husband, resigned from his position as chief executive officer of GLK Limited, which trades as the gaming house Asure Win, paving the way for her Cabinet post.

“Mr. Brice confirmed his resignation in correspondence submitted to the Gaming Board for The Bahamas dated May 5, 2026, advising of his intention to step away from the gaming company and related financial interests,” the statement noted.

The main opposition Free National Movement (FNM) has also raised concern about the two appointments, saying the matter should be “tested before the courts so that the law may be clearly interpreted and upheld in the national interest.”