Minister of Works Desmond Bannister will replace Peter Turnquest as Deputy Prime Minister, according to Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis who made the announcement during his national address on Sunday afternoon.
Turnquest resigned as DPM and Minister of Finance two weeks ago amid allegations that he was involved in a scheme that defrauded two companies he worked for out of $28 million.
Minnis’ DPM pick is no surprise to insiders as Bannister is his longtime close friend.
When the Free National Movement lost the 2012 General Election and Minnis was elected FNM leader, he had hoped that Bannister would become his deputy leader in the leadership race during the party’s post-election convention. However, a devastated Bannister lost to then Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner.