Ten senators received their instruments of appointment at a ceremony at Government House yesterday, marking the completion of the formation of the Upper Chamber.
Prime Minister Perry Christie told the group that he was happy that they answered the call to public service but warned them that there is a lot of work ahead for parliamentarians.
The Cabinet Office announced the appointments of the final three senators on Sunday. They are: Sharon Wilson, a former Senate president and magistrate; Joseph Curry, a business consultant and
former diplomat and Cheryl Bazard, an attorney.
They join defeated Progressive Liberal Party candidates Frank Smith, Gregory Burrows, Jerome Gomez, Julian Russell, Gary Sawyer, Alex Storr and Tanisha Tynes, who were appointed to the Senate last week.
Several of the PLP senators are newcomers to politics who will serve in Parliament for the first time.
Christie said the mix of new and seasoned politicians augurs well for the future of the country's political system.
He added that his planned mid-term adjustments and natural attrition will allow PLP members who were not elected to the House of Assembly or appointed to the Senate a chance to take part in Parliament or take up other posts.
Christie also suggested that Wilson will once again be elected to head the Upper Chamber.
After the ceremony, Wilson, who last served in the Senate from 2002 through 2007, said in whatever capacity she serves, she will seek to ensure that there is bipartisanship and high standards in Parliament.
"Whatever role I play it is my intent to ensure that in our Senate there is a standard of decorum and an advancement of something that is positive," she said.
"The Upper Chamber is a place where we ought to try to show that we can work together for a common goal."
Wilson said her selection to the Senate this time around is more poignant considering the social and economic issues facing the nation.
"To be able to serve in our country at a time like this, I deem it to be a real special privilege," she said. "In so many ways we are at a crossroads. In so many ways there is a need to lift not just the spirits of people [but] to lift the economic standards, to lift moral standards, to lift standards generally in our country."
The opposition Free National Movement appointed four people to the Upper Chamber last week. They are: Zhivargo Laing, Desmond Bannister, Kwasi Thompson and Heather Hunt.
Parliament opens on Wednesday.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian