Vaughn Miller

Vaughn Peterson Miller (1960 or 1961 – 28 September 2025) was a Bahamian pastor, broadcaster and politician. He represented the Golden Isles constituency in the House of Assembly of the Bahamas from 2017 until his death, and served as Minister of Environment and Natural Resources in the government of Philip "Brave" Davis from 2021. A former parliamentary secretary in the Free National Movement (FNM) government, he broke with the party, later sitting as an independent MP and then joining the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP). He was widely known for his earlier career as a radio host and pastor and for his advocacy on environmental protection and climate resilience.

Life and career Early life and education Miller was born on the island of Eleuthera around 1960 or 1961 and grew up in the settlement of Green Castle.

In the United States he pursued further studies at the University of Richmond, Siena College and Jacksonville Theological Seminary, where he obtained a bachelor's degree and later a master's degree.

Miller served as senior pastor of Resurrection Ministries in Nassau and was frequently referred to as "Rev. Vaughn Miller" in church and public life. He also founded and led The Vision Group Ltd, a motivational and mentoring organisation, and earlier in his career was active in the trade union movement and community initiatives, being characterised at his state funeral as a pastor, former trade unionist, community activist and radio talk show host.

Independent MP On 11 December 2019 Miller announced in the House of Assembly that he was resigning from the FNM to sit as an independent member of Parliament. He cited irreconcilable differences with the party over issues including the leasing of the Town Centre Mall to house the General Post Office. The mall was owned in part by St Anne's MP Brent Symonette, who was a Cabinet minister at the time the lease was agreed. Miller said he could no longer walk in agreement with the party leadership.

Progressive Liberal Party In December 2020 Vaughn Miller joined the Progressive Liberal Party. In explaining his decision he linked his political stance to his personal experience as a cancer survivor, stating that a serious illness and its financial consequences had deepened his determination to vote according to his conscience and to focus on the needs of poorer and marginalised Bahamians.

In 2022 he told the United Nations Ocean Conference that The Bahamas was developing a blue carbon offset project to help finance mangrove restoration and coastal resilience, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy. He represented The Bahamas at ministerial-level meetings of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions in Geneva, where he spoke on pollution, climate change and biodiversity, and at regional fora on energy security and climate resilience.

Miller worked closely with conservation organisations, including The Nature Conservancy, and participated in the celebration of TNC's 20th anniversary in The Bahamas, where he highlighted the role of non-governmental partners in protecting reefs, mangroves and other ecosystems. Regional bodies later singled out his work on climate, waste management and environmental governance in their tributes following his death.

By-election Miller's death created a vacancy in the Golden Isles seat during the lifetime of the 14th Bahamian Parliament, triggering a by-election as required by the Parliamentary Elections Act.

Personal life Miller was married to Cassandra C. Miller (née Allen). The couple had one son Vaughn Miller Jr. He came from a large family with roots in Green Castle, Eleuthera. He continued pastoral work alongside his parliamentary career. Contemporaries frequently emphasised his Christian faith and soft-spoken style in political tributes.

Death and funeral Miller died at the age of 64. In the early hours of 28 September 2025 police in Nassau were called after a man was found unresponsive in a vehicle. He was taken to Doctors Hospital where he was pronounced dead and later identified as Miller. The police said no foul play was suspected pending an autopsy.