How Could You Not Appoint Your Deputy as Senator?

Advertisement

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Former PLP cabinet minister, Leslie Miller, who’s never been shy about voicing how he feels, took aim at Free National Movement Leader, Michael Pintard.

His comments came after Governor General Her Excellency Dame Cynthia Pratt read the Speech from the Throne yesterday at the Atlantis Resort.

Also on Wednesday, 8 opposition members of Parliament and 4 senators took their oaths, including Elsworth Johnson, Arinthia Komalafe, Dr. Trevor Johnson, and Rick Fox.

However, noticeably left out was FNM Deputy Leader, Shanendon Cartwright, who lost his bid to become the next MP for the newly formed St. James Constituency in last week’s election.

Many assumed he’d be appointed as senator, but it didn’t happen.

Leslie Miller tells Our News he believes it was the wrong move.

Leslie Miller – Former Cabinet Minister

“How could you pick a senate and you leave out your deputy leader? How the hell that works?…”

Some critics point the finger at Pintard as the reason the FNM lost at the polls, believing his message and style wasn’t enough to win voters over.

Leslie Miller – Former Cabinet Minister

“…One human being in politics that scares me is that guy called Pintard, and we family members from the same place – Ragged Island, but I’m scared of him because he has that ruthless in him that is beyond comprehension. I wish the fellas them luck.”

Pintard now finds himself in the same position as former prime minister Dr. Hubert Minnis, with calls for him to now step down as party leader following the crushing defeat.

When the PLP won back in 2021, Minnis was axed and replaced by Pintard as FNM leader.

Since then, the party distanced themselves from the former PM.

Minnis ran as an independent in the 2026 General Election, but would end up losing the seat he held since 2007.

Miller, who once considered Minnis a close friend, and even campaigned for him before the 2017 General Election, had this to say about the former PM’s defeat at the polls:

Leslie Miller – Former Cabinet Minister

“I said from the beginning that I felt that Dr. McIver was going to get sufficient votes, maybe 1600 that would have depleted his votes, and the PLP might have slipped in on him, [but] that was not the case.”