The FNM MPs
Desmond Bannister was born on the 28 October, 1958. Following his early education in The Bahamas he completed studies leading to an Associates Degree at Miami Dade Community College in Florida and obtained a Bachelor’s Degree from Grinnell College in Iowa.
He studied at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados where he obtained an LL.B degree and went on to complete his Legal Education Certificate at the Norman Manley Law School in Kingston, Jamaica. He was called to The Bahamas Bar in 1988.
Mr. Bannister served as Crown Counsel in the Office of the Attorney General between 1988 and 1991 when he joined the law offices of Evans & Co. He is presently senior partner at The Law Partnership.
He has been engaged as a part-time lecturer for The Bahamas Bar, at The Bahamas Institute of Bankers and at The College of The Bahamas and has served as Acting Stipendiary & Circuit Magistrate.
A lifelong sports enthusiasts, Mr. Bannister was elected as President of The Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations in December, 1999
He was appointed to the Senate on the 21st May, 2002.
A divorcee, Mr. Bannister is the father of two children Dominique and Danielle.
Mr. Carl W. Bethel was born at Nassau 1 July, 1961 to Wilshire and Yvette Bethel.
He was educated at Queen’s College and St. Andrew’s School in Nassau, Wilton House and Yately Manor in the United Kingdom, Lester B. Pearson College, Canada, (International Baccalaureate), the London School of Economics (LL.B Hons.) and Holborn Law Tutors, London, England. He is a member of Lincoln’s Inn, London, U.K.
Mr. Bethel is a Barrister and Counsel & Attorney-at-Law who was called to the Bar of England and Wales and The Bahamas Bar in 1985.
Mr. Bethel represented the Holy Cross Constituency in the House of Assembly between 1992 and 2002. In the first FNM Government he served as Minister of State for Economic Development, Minister of Economic Development, and Attorney General. He is now the Member of Parliament for the Sea Breeze Constituency.
He is a former President of the Torchbearers Youth Association of the FNM. He also served as National Chairman of the FNM and is now Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture.
Mr. Bethel’s interests include reading, chess and Japanese chess. He is a member of the Vestry of Holy Cross Anglican Church. Mr. Bethel is married to Lisa M. Bethel, formerly Foulkes, and the couple has four children.
Larry Cartwright, the Member of Parliament for Long Island and Ragged Island, was born on January 19, 1948 in Gray’s, Long Island to Delbert and Emma Cartwright (nee Wells).
He received his early education at Gray’s Public School and later earned his Teaching Certificate from The Bahamas Teacher’s College in 1968. He completed a Bachelors of Arts in Education at the University of the West Indies in 1980.
Mr. Cartwright has served his community as a teacher, principal, community leader and churchman. Having devoted 31 years to public school teaching, he ended his career as principal of the NGM Major High School in Buckley’s Long Island.
An experienced farmer, Mr. Cartwright was involved in livestock, vegetable, citrus and banana cultivation from 1987 to 2000 and turned to fishing during the period 1999 – 2001.
Mr. Cartwright remains active on the Long Island Sailing Club and in the Long Island Association and is the founder of the Earlie Knowles Memorial Regatta for juniors.
He is a member of the Vestry of St. Paul’s Anglican Church and a member of the Anglican Council of Anglican Diocese of The Bahamas Turks and Caicos Islands.
Mr. Cartwright is married to the former Theresa Antoinette “Ann” Cartwright and the couple has three sons.
Fifty-six year old Sidney S. Collie attended the Pirates Well All-Age School, Mayaguana, and the San Salvador Teachers College before entering the University of Miami graduating with a Bachelor of Education degree. He later received a Master of Science Degree from Nova University and an MBA from the University of Miami.
Mr. Collie pursued a teaching career in the Public School System in Andros and Nassau from 1971 to 1981.
After articling as a law student, he was called to The Bahamas Bar in 1988 and is now senior partner in the Law Firm of Collie & Collie.
A Rotarian, he is a member of the Bahamas Baptist Board of Education and a Member of Zion South Beach Primary School Board of Education. He was appointed Chairman of the Baptist Board of Education in 2003.
He has served as an FNM Senator and as Party Deputy Leader.
He is married to the former Mavis Johnson and is the father of six children. His family worships at Zion South Beach Full Gospel Baptist Church.
Earl Deveaux was born in Staniard Creek, Andros, where he attended the All-Age school. He attended Queen’s College on an academic scholarship, where he graduated as Head Boy.
He completed a Bachelors Degree at the University of Miami and was named in Who’s Who in American Universities and Colleges for leadership and academics. His Master’s Degree was earned at Penn State University. He earned a Certificate in Regional Planning at the United Nations Centre for Regional Planning in Nagoya, Japan.
He has served as Director of Agriculture.
Mr. Deveaux is a former Member of Parliament for North Andros and the Berry Islands. He served as Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Ambassador for the Environment and Minister for Labour and Immigration in the Free National Movement Government.
Mr. Deveaux is widely published on environmental, agricultural and social issues.
A devout Methodist, he is married to the former Barbara Clancy of Long Island, New York. They have two children and four grandchildren.
Mr. Kenyatta Gibson was first elected to the Parliament of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas to represent the Kennedy Constituency in the Southern District of the Island of New Providence in May 2002, after the General Elections of that year. He was subsequently re-elected to represent the Kennedy Constituency in the May 2nd General Elections of 2007.
Mr. Gibson was appointed Chairman of the Gaming Board for the Commonwealth of the Bahamas in July 2002, a position which he held until September of the year 2006. Additionally, Mr. Gibson was appointed as a Member of the Executive Steering Committee of the International Association of Gaming Regulators in March, 2003.
Mr. Gibson has also served as Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee of the Parliament of the Bahamas. Said Committee’s mandate was to examine and review all matters relating to foreign affairs and foreign policy of the Commonwealth.
In February of 2003, Mr. Gibson was appointed a Justice of the Peace of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas by the Governor General of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.
Born in Nassau, December 15th 1968, Mr. Gibson is the sixth of seven children and the third son of his parents Mrs. Clara Gibson and Mr. James Gibson, now deceased.
Kenyatta Gibson attended St. Anne’s Primary and High Schools in Nassau, Bahamas and went on to complete an Associates of Arts Degree in History at the College of the Bahamas. At these institutions, Mr. Gibson’s education and social achievements created the foundation for his later advancement.
Mr. Gibson attended Buckingham University in Buckinghamshire, England where he obtained an LLB in Law.
Mr. Gibson is an Attorney-at-Law and was called to both the Bar of England and Wales and The Bahamas Bar in 1994. Mr. Gibson then worked with the law firm of Cash Fountain and Co. as an Associate Attorney, and then moved on to be a Partner in the firm of Harding-Lee and Company. He is presently the Principal in the Law Chambers of K. M. Gibson and Company, Counsel and Attorneys-at-law, and Notaries Public.
Mr. Gibson also serves on the Board of Directors of varied companies and organizations, in which his experience has proven to be an asset.
Mr. Gibson is a past columnist for the Nassau Guardian, and was a regular panelist in the media on issues related to his areas of expertise.
Mr. Gibson is a practicing Anglican, and he attends St. Christopher’s Anglican Church in Nassau, Bahamas.
Mr. Gibson enjoys the study of History and Political Science and is an avid fan of American Football.
Grand Bahamian Neko Grant, 56, has been a resident of Freeport for 35 years. He has a special affinity with the community he feels privileged to represent in Parliament.
A member of the Free National Movement from an early age, he remains committed to building upon the many accomplishments of the FNM in office particularly as they impact Grand Bahama.
He was educated at the West End Public School and later attended St. John’s College in Nassau. He holds a diploma in Business Management from La Salle Extension University, Chicago, and a diploma in International Management from the European Institute of Business Administration.
Neko joined Burns House in 1975 and has served in several management positions. He presently serves as Group Manager, Northern Bahamas for The Burns House Group of Companies.
He has been a member of the Kiwanis Club of Lucaya for some 21 years.
He served as Vice President and Director of the Grand Bahama Amateur Softball Association, Vice President and Commissioner of the Grand Bahama Baseball Association, and President of the Bahamas Softball Federation.
He was inducted into the International Softball Hall of Fame in 1997.
Neko Grant and his wife Barbara are the parents of two adult children, Nekcarla Melissa an Attorney and Neko Carlson II, an Architect.
When he can find time, he enjoys playing softball and going fishing.
Mrs. Verna Grant was born at Eight Mile Rock, Grand Bahama on 6 February 1963, the last child of Merlene and Lionel “Par-boy” Smith. .
She received her early education at the Martin Town Primary School and at the Eight Mile Rock High School, where she was active in clubs and organizations, including Kiwanis Key Club, the Cadet Core, and the Christian Youth Movement.
She was also active in sports playing softball and volleyball.
She pursued higher education at Northern Virginia Community College and completed her business education at the Washington School for Secretaries in Washington, D.C.
At Family Guardian Insurance Company, she is presently employed as a Marketing Assistant.
She has served as an elected member of the Eight Mile Rock School Board and a member of the Eight Mile Rock East Township Local Government.
Mrs. Grant is a member of the International Association of Administrative Professionals, and Shelter Manager for the Red Cross.
She is an active church member and has served as a member of the Vestry of the Anglican Church of St. Stephens in Eight Mile Rock. She has been particularly active in the Youth Camp and Women’s Ministries.
Mrs. Grant resides in Eight Mile Rock with her husband of 25 years, Howard Grant, and their three sons and one daughter. She enjoys fishing, gardening, arts and craft.
The Rt. Hon. Hubert Alexander Ingraham, was re-elected Parliamentary Representative for North Abaco, in the General Election of 2 May, 2007 and took the oath of office becoming Prime Minister of The Bahamas for a third time on Friday 4 May, 2007.
Mr. Ingraham previously served of Prime Minister of The Bahamas for two consecutive terms between 1992 and 2002 when he voluntarily chose not to seek re-election to Leadership of his Party, the Free National Movement.
In the historic election of August 1992 when the FNM unseated the Progressive Liberal Party, Mr. Ingraham succeeded the late Prime Minister Sir Lynden Pindling, who had headed the PLP government since January 1967.
Mr. Ingraham was born at Pine Ridge, Grand Bahama, on 4 August 1947, the son of Isabella Laroda (nee Cornish) and Jerome Ingraham.
He grew up at Cooper's Town on the island of Abaco, and began his education at Cooper's Town Public School, later attending the Southern Senior School and the Government High School Evening Institute in Nassau.
Mr. Ingraham studied law in Nassau, was called to The Bahamas Bar in December 1972, and eventually became senior partner in the law firm of Christie, Ingraham and Co.
He entered front-line politics in 1975, when he was elected to the National General Council of the then ruling Progressive Liberal Party. He had previously served as a member of the Air Transport Licensing Authority and Chairman of the Real Property Tax Tribunal.
In 1976, Mr. Ingraham was elected National Chairman of the PLP and a member of that party's National Executive Committee. In 1977, still Chairman of the PLP, he was elected to the House of Assembly.
In Parliament, Mr. Ingraham served as a member of the Standing Committee on Privilege and Public Accounts, and as Chairman of an investigative Select Committee on Influence Peddling and Political Contributions.
He was re-elected to Parliament in the general election of June 1982, and appointed Minister of Housing, National Insurance and Social Service. In 1982, he also became Chairman of The Bahamas Mortgage Corporation, an institution established to secure and guarantee housing financing for Bahamians in need of that service.
In 1984, in the midst of a Commission of Inquiry into illegal drug-trafficking and trans-shipment through The Bahamas and the attendant disclosures of corruption inside the government and the civil service, Mr. Ingraham, as a result of his protests against that situation, was dismissed from The Bahamas Cabinet.
He continued to speak out on the issue of corruption and other unsavoury practices, and was expelled from the governing party in October 1986. Mr. Ingraham offered as an independent candidate in the 1987 general election, and was one of only two Members of Parliament to have been expelled from the ruling PLP to have gone on to immediate independent re-election.
Mr. Ingraham joined the Official Opposition in April 1990, and was immediately appointed Parliamentary Leader. When the Leader of the Opposition, Sir Cecil Wallace-Whitfield, died in May 1990, Mr. Ingraham was unanimously elected Leader of the Free National Movement and was appointed Leader of the Official Opposition on 18 May 1990, by the Governor-General.
In June 1990, as freshman Leader of The Free National Movement, he led his party to a Marco City, Grand Bahama by-election victory over the governing party.
On 19 August 1992, Mr. Ingraham led the Free National Movement to a stunning 32-17 victory over the Progressive liberal Party and ended the 25- year hold on power of former Prime Minister Sir Lynden Pindling.
The new Prime Minister assumed Cabinet responsibility for the Ministry of Finance. Later, in a streamlined Cabinet, he took on responsibility for trade and industry, and quickly established a one-stop Investment Authority promoted fresh investment in The Bahamas.
In July 1993, Prime Minister Ingraham was made a Member of Her Majesty's most honourable Privy Council. Again on 14 March 1997, Mr. Ingraham led the FNM to an even greater election victory.
Mr. Ingraham's having pledged earlier that he would serve no longer than two terms or 10 years as Head of Government, the FNM in 2001 held special elections for Leader-Designate and Deputy Leader-Designate of the Party, with Sen. Tommy Turnquest emerging as the victor who would assume leadership of the FNM on the night of the next general elections.
Although the FNM lost the 2002 general elections, Mr. Ingraham, retained his North Abaco seat. During the Party's November 2005 convention, he was again elected FNM Leader. The Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham is married to the former Delores Miller of Long Island, and they have five children.
Edison M. Key, entrepreneur, was born at Nassau on 18 May 1938 to Bunyan and Lillian Key of Marsh Harbour, Abaco.
He attended Marsh Harbour Public School and pursued further studies in mechanics, gas and electric welding and agriculture.
He worked as a foreman with Sea Breeze Construction Company, and together with Morton Sawyer started Key and Sawyer Farms which produced and exported fresh fruit to the Florida Markets.
Mr. Key entered the political arena in 1977. He served two terms as an MP for South Abaco and two terms as a Senator and was Chairman of the Bahamas Telecommunications Corporation.
Mr. Key resigned his office as a government senator in 2005, and later resigned from the Governing Party. He later joined the Free National Movement, and since that time has been working avidly in the Party’s interest in Abaco.
A Protestant, Mr. Key is the father of three children.
Zhivargo Laing, son of straw vendor Naomi Seymour and former hotel worker, the late Cedric Laing was born on September 7, 1967, in Nassau but grew up in Freeport.
He received his early education at Lewis Yard Primary School and Hawksbill High School where he was Headboy. Later he attended The College of The Bahamas and was elected President of the College of The Bahamas Union of Students.
Zhivargo completed studies leading to a Bachelor of Arts Degree in economic from the University of Western Ontario in Canada. Later he undertook graduate studies at the George Washington University. He also received training in foreign investment promotion in Taiwan and Japan.
In May 1997, Mr. Laing was elected to the House of Assembly as the FNM representative for the Fort Charlotte Constituency. He was appointed Minister of State in Youth, Sports and Culture, Minister of State in Education and Minister of Economic Development.
Zhivargo is the author of three books: “College, Career and Money – A Guide for Teens and Young Adults”, “A Trust Out of this World” and “Who Moved My Conch – Understanding How Free Trade will affect the Bahamian Economy”. He writes a weekly Column “Straight Up Talk” for the Tribune and is host of “Public Affairs Corner”, and a radio talk show on Mix 102.1 FM. He is the proprietor of Pro-Life Development Systems, a motivational speaking, training and business consulting firm.
A member of the Assemblies of God Churches, Mr. Laing is married to the former Zsa Zsa Monique LaRoda and they have two sons, Zhivargo II and Zhimaal, and one daughter Za’riah.
Charles Maynard was born at Nassau in 1970, the son of Andrew (Dud) and Isadora Maynard.
Mr. Maynard graduated from Queen’s College and later from the College of The Bahamas in 1988.
He has worked with an agro-business development company participating in comprehensive research in the profitability of sustained agricultural and animal husbandry in The Bahamas.
Mr. Maynard’s biggest accomplishment has been in helping to develop the Corner Hotel, a thriving business in the heart of City 2000. The hotel has been one of the benchmarks of Bahamian-owned and operated hospitality properties.
Mr. Maynard’s keen interest in the promotion of Bahamian culture led him to develop a Bahamian products and services enterprise. Though still not developed to its full potential, this business has helped pave the way for the creation of a viable Junkanoo industry.
He has been involved in cultural activities for most of his life, but Junkanoo is really his first love. He has played different roles in a number of leading Junkanoo groups.
Over the years Mr. Maynard has involved himself in a number of community projects and has developed good working relationships with a wide range of community partners. For over six years he has served on the Carmichael Police Consultative Committee.
An Anglican, Mr. Maynard is the father of two daughters.
Branville McCartney was born in Nassau on May 6, 1967 to William and Marina McCartney.
He graduated from Kingsway Academy in 1985, and read law at Holborn Law Tutors in London, England, where he graduated in 1989 with LLB (Hons.). He is a Barrister of the Inner Temple, and was admitted to the Bar of England and Wales and the Commonwealth of The Bahamas in 1990.
Mr. McCartney became a partner at Harry B. Sands & Co and also served as a part-time lecturer at the College of The Bahamas in Business and Banking Law. He also served as an Acting Stipendiary and Circuit Magistrate (Civil and Traffic Division).
He is a founder and managing partner of Halsbury Chambers, a full-service law firm of 12 attorneys with offices in Nassau and Exuma.
A Director of the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of the Chamber’s Crime Prevention Committee, Mr. McCartney in 2003, achieved membership with the International Lawyers Network (ILN), an association of 85 high-quality, full-service law firms with over 4,500 lawyers worldwide.
An Anglican, Mr. McCartney is married to Lisa Sawyer, a former Miss Bahamas and the proprietor of the Meridian School at Unicorn Village. The McCartneys have two daughters, Kasia, who is nine, and Tai, who is four.
Fifty-two year old Hubert Minnis, a medical doctor by profession, was born in Bain Town to Rosalie North and Randolph Minnis.
He was educated at Our Lady’s Primary School, Western Junior and St Augustine College, Nassau and the University of Minnesota, USA.
An Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, he is married to the former Patricia Beneby and is the father of three sons: Tremaine, Jamil and Runako.
After obtaining his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of the West Indies and MRCOG from London in 1985, Dr. Minnis returned home and began serving the Bahamian people as a physician at the Princess Margaret Hospital.
There he served as a Consultant and Head of Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and as Deputy Chief of Staff.
Dr Minnis is a former President of the Medical Association of The Bahamas, Member of the Medical Council and Chairman of the Hotel Corporation of The Bahamas, and an associate lecturer at the University of West Indies in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Dr. Minnis worships at Resurrection Catholic Church.
Phenton O. Neymour, 42, the son of Basil Neymour and the former Ena Neymour, is a former Head Boy of both St. Paul’s College in Freeport (1979-80) and Queen’s College in Nassau (1981-82).
He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering, with a minor in Mathematics, and a Master of Science Degree in Environmental Engineering with a minor in Business Administration from Syracuse University in New York.
A former Leader of the Coalition for Democratic Reform (CDR), Mr. Neymour has been involved in the Trade Union Movement serving as president of the Water and Sewerage Corporate Management Union and as the Assistant Secretary General of The Bahamas Trade Union Congress.
He is presently vice president of Development of The Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Foundation, having previously served as a director.
Mr. Neymour worships at Christ Church Cathedral. He is married to the former Juliet Gittens and the couple has two children, Ashley and Jonathan.
Brensil Rolle, 52, was born at Black Point, Exuma, to Hartman and Joyce Rolle and now resides in Garden Hills, New Providence.
He holds a Master of Science degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Southern Connecticut, and served as President of the Black Point Development Association.
He has also served as first Chairman of the National Teacher of the Year Awards Programme, the Professional Development Division of the Bahamas Union of Teachers and was Founding Chairman of the Career Path for Teachers Initiative.
Mr. Rolle is a former Controller of Road Traffic.
He is married to the former Cynthia Pickstock, and they have two children: Kristal and Renaldo.
Kenneth Russell was born in Bailey Town, Bimini on 22 October, 1953 to Osworth and Eunice Russell and received his early education in Bimini and Freeport, Grand Bahama. He completed studies at the C.R. Walker Technical College and The Bahamas Teacher’s Institute in New Providence. He later pursued business studies at Nova Southern University.
Between 1973 and 1976, Mr. Russell was engaged as an industrial arts teacher in the Government-operated school system at Eight Mile Rock High.
In 1976 he joined The Bahamas Oil Refinery Co. Ltd and was engaged in a variety of positions with the company until 2001.
A former chairman and vice-chairman of the Free National Movement, High Rock Constituency Association, Mr. Russell was elected to the House of Assembly for the High Rock constituency in 1997, and relected to a second term in 2002.
He was a member of the Housing Commission for Grand Bahama from 1992 to 1998, and a member of the Local Government Council for Freeport from 1996 until his election to Parliament.
He served as Chairman of the Town Planning Committee for New Providence and The Bahamas between 1997 and 2001, and as a Cabinet Minister with responsibility for Public Works between 2001 and 2002. He has been a Justice of the Peace since 1996, and presently provide those services to the Grand Bahama community.
Mr. Russell is married to the former Georgina Bridgewater and the couple has four children. The family worships at the Church of God of Prophesy.
Alvin Smith was born in Hatchet Bay, Eleuthera on 23 September 1951 to Bernice Smith and the late Alfred Smith. He received his early education at the Hatchet Bay All Age School. He received his teaching certification at the Teacher’s Training College at San Salvador and a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from the University of Miami, Florida, USA
Mr. Smith spent 24 years as a teacher in the government-operated school system.
A former Trustee of the Bahamas Union of Teachers, he entered frontline politics in 1992 when he unsuccessfully contested the Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera Constituency.
He was appointed to the Senate by the newly elected FNM Government and appointed Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education in 1995.
He served as Vice-President of the Senate from 1992 to 1995 and as Chairman of the Air Transport Authority.
He was elected to the House of Assembly in 1997 and served as Executive Chairman of the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC) from 1997 to 2001.
He was again appointed Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education Youth and Sports in 2001.
In May, 2002 Mr. Smith was re-elected Member of Parliament for North Eleuthera and from May, 2002 to November, 2005 served as Official Leader of the Free National Movement in Parliament.
A Methodist, Mr. Smith is married to the former Arnette Pinder and the couple has two children.
Brent Symonette is the Deputy Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, Deputy Leader of the Free National Movement and the incumbent Member of Parliament for the newly constituted St. Anne's Constituency.
He is the son of the late Sir Roland Symonette, the first Premier of The Bahamas and the late Lady Symonette.
Mr. Symonette started his education at St Andrew’s School in Nassau, then attended Leys School, Cambridge, England. He pursued higher education at Brunel University, London, England, where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree with Honours in Politics and Law. He was called to the Bar as a member of the Inner Temple, London and to The Bahamas Bar in 1978.
A former FNM Senator, he has served in the FNM Government as Minister of Tourism and Attorney General.
The Deputy Leader has also served as Chairman of the Hotel Corporation, Chairman of the Airport Authority, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, and as Opposition Whip in Parliament.
Mr. Symonette is married to the former Robin Mactaggart of Nassau and the couple has three children.
Brent Symonette is the Deputy Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, Deputy Leader of the Free National Movement and the incumbent Member of Parliament for the newly constituted St. Anne's Constituency.
He is the son of the late Sir Roland Symonette, the first Premier of The Bahamas and the late Lady Symonette.
Mr. Symonette started his education at St Andrew’s School in Nassau, then attended Leys School, Cambridge, England. He pursued higher education at Brunel University, London, England, where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree with Honours in Politics and Law. He was called to the Bar as a member of the Inner Temple, London and to The Bahamas Bar in 1978.
A former FNM Senator, he has served in the FNM Government as Minister of Tourism and Attorney General.
The Deputy Leader has also served as Chairman of the Hotel Corporation, Chairman of the Airport Authority, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, and as Opposition Whip in Parliament.
Mr. Symonette is married to the former Robin Mactaggart of Nassau and the couple has three children.
J. Kwasi Thompson was born in Nassau on August 21, 1975. He received his early education at Mary Star of the Sea Catholic School and Freeport Anglican High School in Grand Bahama. Later he attended the College of The Bahamas in Nassau from where he received an Associate of Arts Degree in History with Credit. He received a Bachelor of Law Degree (First Class with Honours) from the University of Buckingham, United Kingdom.
A member of the Honourable Society of Middle Temple he was called to the English Bar on July 24, 1997, and The Bahamas Bar on September 19, 1997. He is presently an attorney in the law firm of James Roosevelt Thompson & Co.
Mr. Thompson has served on the Hotel Licensing Board and the National Youth Advisory Council, and is a member of the Grand Bahama Youth Leaders Association. He is a former lecturer with The Bahamas Hotel Training College and past President of the Grand Bahama Torchbearer’s Association.
Mr. Thompson worships at Calvary Temple Assembly and currently serves as a Deacon and Sunday School Teacher.
He is married to Tamika Thompson and they are the parents of daughters Jadyn and Jayleese.
Mrs. Loretta-Butler Turner is a Funeral Director, Embalmer and Business Administrator, the first Bahamian female to have achieved a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mortuary Sciences; she is also a Civic and Political enthusiast.
She is the grand-daughter of the first Bahamian Governor-General, Sir Milo Butler and his wife Lady Butler.
Mrs. Turner was born in Nassau to Mr. and Mrs. Raleigh Butler on January 9th, 1961.
Mrs. Turner received her primary and secondary education at St. Andrew's School, Nassau and her college education at New England Institute, Boston Massachusetts, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Science (Summa Cum Laude). She is married to Edward Turner and the couple has two children.
Mrs. Turner is a member of St. Matthew’s Anglican Church. She is an Executive Member of The Free National Movement, a member of the Women’s Association and immediate past Deputy Chairman of the FNM.
Mrs. Turner was a candidate for the FNM in the St. Margaret’s Constituency in the 2002 general elections.
Tommy Turnquest was born on 16 November 1959, the only son of former Governor General Sir Orville Turnquest and Lady Turnquest.
He has served as president of the Torchbearers Association and Leader of the Party.
He was elected to Parliament in August 1992 and again in March 1997 and now serves as Leader of the Opposition in the Senate.
In the FNM Government, he served as Parliamentary Secretary, Chairman of the National Hurricane Relief Committee, Minister of State for the Public Service and Labour, Minister for Public Works, Minister for the Public Service, Immigration and National Insurance, and Minister for Tourism.
Senator Turnquest attended St. Anne’s School in Nassau, and later Malvern College in England, the University of Western Ontario Business School in Canada and graduated with an Honours Degree in Business.
Prior to entering full-time politics, he served as a senior banking official for 11 years with the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC), during which time he was admitted as a Fellow of the Institute of Canadian Bankers (FICB).
He is married to the former Shawn Carey, an educator, and the couple has three children: Carey, Robert and Erin.
He worships at Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Stapledon Gardens.
Byran Woodside was born August 22, 1961, at Nassau, to Neville and Margaret Woodside. He is the father of two children, Blair Shelby Woodside and Byran Shelton Woodside, Jr.
He attended Wentworth Primary School, Uriah McPhee Primary School, C. H. Reeves Junior School and R. M. Bailey Senior High School. After graduating in 1977 from R. M. Bailey, he attended the College of The Bahamas where he obtained an Associates of Arts Degree in Sociology.
A former columnist for the College of The Bahamas publication, The Spectrum, he attended Brigham Young University, obtaining a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology, with a minor in Economics.
He was employed with the Ministry of Youth, Sports & Culture and served as Executive Director of Junior Achievement Bahamas from 1985-1990.
Mr. Woodside was employed with Texaco Bahamas Limited for 11 years, advancing to the position of Marketing and Sales Manager in the Marketing Department.
Today, he leads a 17-member team at Texaco Thompson Boulevard Star Mart and Service Station.
He is the holder of an external LL.B. (Hons.) Degree from the University of London and obtained a Certificate of Legal Education from the Eugene Dupuch Law School. He was called to the Bahamas Bar on October 31, 2003.
Mr Woodside is an associate with the law firm of Seymour & Co.
Kendal Wright, born in Nassau on 17 August, 1958 is a graduate of St. Augustine’s High School in Nassau, St. Leo’s College in Florida where he majored in history, political science and pre-law and the University of the West Indies, where he read law at the Norman Manley Law School in Jamaica.
He completed the Certificate of Legal Education in 1988 and was called to The Bahamas Bar the same year.
Before reading law, Kendal worked as a journalist at the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas. Since 1993 he has been the host of the sports show “Getting It Right” on Love 97 (Jones Communications).
The son of L. Garth Wright and Nurse Brezetta King, Kendal is an avid sportsman. He served as Head of the National Sports Council during the late 1990s.
Since 1989 he has been Managing Partner at Kendal Wright & Co. Law Chambers.
Kendal, the FNM candidate for the Fresh Creek, Andros Constituency in the 1992 general election, is a member of the Baptist community.
